Department of Health and Social Care

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to improve free of charge information sharing between GPs and (a) clinical commissioning groups and (b) health trusts on which of their patients have ME.

Jackie Doyle-Price: The commissioning of services for people with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis is a matter for local clinical commissioning groups. General practitioner (GP) Practices are required to keep adequate records of the attendance and treatment of all their patients. Summary Care Records enable healthcare professionals working in different care settings to access an electronic summary of key information from a patient’s GP record. Currently, Summary Care Records are widely used across National Health Service urgent and emergency care. However, the Summary Care Record may also be used in planned care to provide up to date clinical information.

Mental Health Services: North West

James Frith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many in-patient mental health beds have been available to patients in (a) the North West, (b) Greater Manchester and (c) Bury in each year since 2010.

Jackie Doyle-Price: This information is not available in the format requested.

Drugs: Prices

Sir David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if his Department will take steps to implement the recommendation in the Life Sciences Industrial Strategy to evolve medicines value assessments to include improved patient outcome measures.

Caroline Dinenage: The Government is supportive of the vision of the Life Sciences Industrial Strategy (LSIS). However, it is a sector led document and not official Government policy. The Government has committed to implement some of the recommendations in collaboration with the sector through the first Life Sciences Sector Deal, which was published as part of the Industrial Strategy White Paper. The Sector Deal did not include measures on this specific recommendation. However, Sector Deals are iterative and recommendations not taken forward in the first phase may be considered for future phases or alternative policy delivery routes. The LSIS recommends that ‘Value assessments should be evolved in the long-term with improved patient outcome measures, affordability and cost management data extending beyond one year timeframes’. It relates to a number of issues raised in the Accelerated Access Review (AAR) and work is ongoing between the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and NHS England to address them as part of the Government’s response to the AAR. In 2012 NICE reviewed the guidance on technology appraisals, including a public consultation on a potential new value assessment framework. This included amendments to include patient outcome measures. However, the review concluded that there was insufficient consensus to modify the assessment framework at that time. NICE is planning to start the work on the next update to its guide to methods of technology appraisal in 2019.

Medical Records

Sir David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the UK is at the global forefront of collecting and using patient data to improve health and care outcomes.

Jackie Doyle-Price: The Government is committed to supporting innovation and improvement through the safe and secure use of data from the health and care system. NHS Digital is the national provider of high-quality information, data and IT systems for health and social care, with a statutory duty in the Health and Social Care Act 2012, to assure the quality of all the data it collects, publishes and makes available, under strict controls, to the research community. At present, a wide range of data is collected from the National Health Service to support a range of secondary uses including within the research community. Recognising the value and importance of this data, NHS Digital has made a number of commitments to the Life Sciences Industrial Strategy. In addition, NHS Digital has set out national standards and approaches for data and interoperability and sponsors the Professional Records Standards Body to define the standards needed for good care records which are the foundation of strong data for research. To support researchers understanding of the data access environment, NHS Digital is also rolling out a series of Roadshows for Researchers which will promote understanding of the types of data that are available for research and how to access this data.

Cancer: Research

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has made an assessment of the effect of the UK leaving the EU on medical research into (a) rare and (b) paediatric cancers.

Steve Brine: The Government’s commitment to funding cancer research has not changed because of the referendum. Rare and paediatric cancer research, along with all cancer research, is a strong priority for the Government including through the National Institute for Health Research, which has invested £745 million in cancer research from 2010/11 to 2015/16. My Rt. hon. Friend the Prime Minister has made it clear that we want to work closely with Europe in science and research, stating in a speech on 3 March: “the UK is also committed to establishing a far-reaching science and innovation pact with the EU, facilitating the exchange of ideas and researchers. This would enable the UK to participate in key programmes alongside our EU partners”. My Rt. hon. Friend the Chancellor has also said that the Treasury will guarantee EU structural and investment funding, promised before the Autumn Statement. He has also promised to underwrite payments for competitive EU funding awards through the Horizon 2020 underwrite guarantee, which was announced on 13 August 2016.

Air Pollution

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the effect on human health of emissions of (a) PM 1 and (b) PM 0.1 particles.

Jackie Doyle-Price: Recent assessments have been undertaken of the health effects of airborne particulate matter (PM) on the United Kingdom population, but no separate assessments of the impact of the PM1 and PM0.1 components of particulate air pollution have been produced. Recent reviews by the Health Effects Institute (HEI) and World Health Organization (WHO) of the effects of different components of air pollution, including ultrafine particles (PM0.1), concluded that there is currently limited evidence on the effects on health of ultrafine particles. The HEI review is available at: https://www.healtheffects.org/publication/understanding-health-effects-ambient-ultrafine-particles The WHO review is available at: http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/193108/REVIHAAP-Final-technical-report-final-version.pdf?ua=1

Cannabis: Medical Treatments

Tonia Antoniazzi: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to grant licences for medicinal cannabis products; and if he will make a statement.

Jackie Doyle-Price: The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is the United Kingdom Agency responsible for the regulation of medicines used in the UK. The MHRA has not received any marketing authorisation (licence) applications for a medicinal product that contains raw cannabis, for the treatment of any condition in the UK. If a licence application for a medicinal product containing raw cannabis is received, the MHRA would assess the data submitted to ensure that the product is safe, has efficacy in the purpose claimed for it, is manufactured to the necessary quality standards and that there is a positive balance of benefits over any risks before approval of the licence.

Mental Health Services: Lincolnshire

Karen Lee: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the level service accessibility for patients requiring long-term mental health care in (a) Lincolnshire and (b) Lincoln constituency.

Jackie Doyle-Price: Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is currently working with partners to complete a Multi-Agency Review of Mental Health Crisis Services. The Trust is working with its commissioners, South West Lincolnshire Clinical Commissioning Group and Lincolnshire County Council, on a number of improvement programmes to support local and national priorities for mental health. The Trust also works with a number of local mental health groups and organisations to provide care and support to people with long term mental health needs.

Clinical Commissioning Groups

Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has issued guidance to Clinical Commissioning Group's on best practice for reduce financial deficits.

Steve Brine: As with all public services, local National Health Service areas are obliged to live within their agreed budget – otherwise they effectively take up resources that could be spent on general practitoners, mental health care, and cancer treatment. However, it is for local leaders in sustainability and transformation partnership areas, working together with NHS England and NHS Improvement, to deliver against their own plans to achieve financial balance. NHS England has set up a team to focus on financial resilience in clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) that provides good practice guidance, support, and intervention assistance along with Regional and DCO (Directors of Commissioning Operations) staff. NHS England does not provide mandated guidance, but instead promotes good practice based on experiences in other CCGs and nationally-focussed QIPP (Quality, Innovation, Productivity and Prevention) work, which is designed to identify efficiencies and savings that can assist CCGs to recover their financial position. In addition, NHS England has established an internal SharePoint site, which provides CCGs with guidance on a range of issues, including how to avoid financial difficulties. It also contains NHS England’s position statement on intervention and escalation should CCGs experience financial difficulties, clearly defining roles and responsibilities.

Warrington Care Commissioning Group

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if his Department will take steps to ensure that the Chief Officer of Warrington Care Commissioning Group spending 50 per cent of his time as acting head of Halton clinical commissioning group does not detrimentally affect his management of Warrington Care Commissioning Group.

Steve Brine: Dr Andrew Davies has the support of very experienced senior management teams, for both NHS Halton Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and NHS Warrington CCG. Dr Davies will undertake his role and accountabilities, attending committees and governing bodies for both CCGs. The joint senior management team meets weekly (every Monday) with Dr Davies attending and chairing each weekly meeting for assurance that all requirements are met and duties are discharged. Dr Davies’ diary commitments are managed effectively to ensure that his time is split equally between both CCGs as required.

Warrington Clinical Commissioning Group

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 12 March 2018 to Question 131390, who the person was who made the decision to appoint the Chief Officer of Warrington clinical commissioning group as the acting, interim, Chief Officer of Halton clinical commissioning group.

Steve Brine: NHS England has advised that the appointment of the Chief Officer is made by the leadership team of the Clinical Commissioning Group. Accountable Officer status is then confirmed by Simon Stevens, Chief Executive (and Accounting Officer) of NHS England.

General Practitioners: Incentives

Thelma Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what information his Department holds on the number of doctors who have been awarded bonuses by clinical commissioning groups limiting the number of patients they refer to hospital; and if he will make a statement.

Steve Brine: NHS England confirms that no bonuses have been paid.

General Practitioners: Incentives

Thelma Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what information his Department holds on the number of doctors who have been awarded bonuses by clinical commissioning groups for limiting the number of patients they refer for cancer screening; and if he will make a statement.

Steve Brine: NHS England does not hold this information. NHS England does not support bonus payments to general practitioners for reducing referrals.

Mental Health Services: Out of area Treatment

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many (a) adults and (b) children and young people within the Sunderland Clinical Commissioning Group were sent out of area to receive mental health treatment in 2016-17.

Jackie Doyle-Price: The information requested is not collected for children and young people. For adults, data of out of area placements has been collected since October 2016, therefore information for 2016/17 is not available.

Medical Treatments

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with (a) NHS England and (b) NICE on the development of (a) multi-indication pricing, (b) outcomes-based pricing and (c) annuity deals for new treatments.

Steve Brine: The Department has regular and ongoing dialogue with NHS England and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence on matters related to medicines pricing and patient access to new treatments. We will consider all relevant issues in upcoming discussions with the pharmaceutical industry on medicines pricing arrangements for 2019 onwards to succeed the current Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme.

Facial Disfigurement

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department has taken to ensure that people with facial disfigurements are not refused (a) medical and (b) surgical treatments for their condition on the grounds that such treatment is cosmetic.

Steve Brine: Reconstructive or plastic surgery can be available on the National Health Service. This is different from cosmetic surgery; it is surgery to restore a person's normal appearance after illness, accident or a birth defect. It includes procedures such as rebuilding breasts after a mastectomy, or repairing a cleft lip.

Prisoners: Hepatitis

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has been made of the number of prisoners infected with the hepatitis C virus in each prison in each of the last three financial years.

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made the number of prisoners that have been tested for the hepatitis C virus in each prison in each of the last three financial years.

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made of the number of prisoners that have been diagnosed with the hepatitis C virus in each prison in each of the last three financial years.

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made of the number of prisoners that have received treatment for the hepatitis C virus in each prison in each of the last three financial years.

Jackie Doyle-Price: Performance in relation to the blood borne virus opt-out testing programme in adult prisons in England, which includes hepatitis B, C and HIV, is measured at the prison level by NHS England through data collected as part of the Health and Justice Indicators of Performance (HJIPs). For financial years 2015/16, 2016/17 and quarter one of 2017/18 (the most current period for which published data is available), 11.5, 10.5 and 18.8% of new receptions and transfers to prisons in England have been tested for infection with hepatitis C virus. HJIP data on the number of tests undertaken for hepatitis C virus has only been published for quarter one of financial year 2017/18. This data indicates that 8,797 tests were undertaken in prisons during that period. HJIP data on the number of prisoners diagnosed with hepatitis C virus has only been published for quarter one of financial year 2017/18. This data indicates that during this period 1,590 people tested positive for hepatitis C antibody, and of those 434 tested positive for hepatitis C virus as identified by polymerase chain reaction testing. HJIP data on the number of patients referred for treatment of hepatitis C virus has only been published for quarter one of financial year 2017/18. This data indicates that 226 prisoners were referred into specialist care during this period to have their infection treated

Hepatitis

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans Public Health England has to update the template, Hepatitis C: commissioning template for estimating disease prevalence, published in March 2014.

Steve Brine: Public Health England is working on providing updated estimates of hepatitis C (HCV) prevalence and disease burden at the sub-national level, covering the 22 Operational Delivery Network (ODN) areas that deliver HCV treatments in England. The new ODN HCV profile tool will make use of a broad range of HCV indicator data, including: surveillance data on HCV prevalence in people who inject drugs; the size of this key at-risk population; treatment and diagnoses, and; severe HCV-related liver disease. Modelling work is underway to link these data sources in a local ODN-level epidemic model, which will provide more robust estimates of prevalence, proportion diagnosed, future disease burden and projected impact of treatment for each ODN.

Cancer

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 26 February 2018 to Question 127294, on cancer, and with reference to paragraph 7 of the Next steps on the NHS Five Year Forward View report, published in March 2017 on survival rates, between what years have been compared to reach the estimate of 7,000 more people are surviving cancer after NHS treatment than would have three years before; and what values for survival index and number of cancer patients were used to arrive at this number.

Steve Brine: The figure for the number of lives saved over three years is the difference between two figures:- the number of deaths from cancer occurring in one year, taking into account the last published set of survival rates (these were for patients followed up until 2015, at the time of writing of the March 2017 report) and the number of new cancer cases each year (there were approximately 297,000 new cancer cases in 2014); and- the number of deaths which would have occurred if survival rates were lagging three years behind. The survival rates used in computing the two figures above (shown in the table below) reveal an increase in all published cancer survival rates in the last three years. Approximately 7,000 more people would have died from cancer in 2015 if survival rates had still been those that applied to patients followed up until 2011. Survival rates (scale 0 - 100) of patients diagnosed with cancer in England (Office for National Statistics) Year patients diagnosedOne year since diagnosisFive years since diagnosis10 years since diagnosis199960.642.536.2200061.143.136.9200161.543.737.520026244.438.2200362.64538.9200463.145.739.6200563.746.340.3200664.247:200764.947.7:200865.648.4:200966.349.2:201067.149.9:201167.9::201268.8::201369.6::201470.4::

Cancer

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 26 February 2018 to Question 127294, on cancer, and with reference to paragraph 7 in the Next steps on the NHS Five Year Forward View report, published in May 2017, what values for survival index and number of cancer patients were used to estimate that an extra 5,000 people to survive their cancer over the next two years.

Steve Brine: At the time of writing of the March 2017 report the figures for survival rates for patients followed up until 2016 and until 2017 had to be estimated. Estimates took into account the existing data on the number of new cases (approximately 297,000 in 2014) and assumed that survival rates would continue to increase at rates approximately similar to the ones revealed in the latest data. With these estimated rates instead of the rates applied to those patients followed up until 2015, the number of patients dying from cancer in 2017 would decrease by approximately 5,000. It should be noted that the latest available figures for survival rates support the assumptions in the estimates for the survival rates, as they show an absolute increase in survival of 0.7%, 0.9% and 1% for one, five and 10-year cancer survival rates respectively.

Helen and Douglas House

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has had discussions with Helen and Douglas House Hospice in Oxford about (a) its funding and (b) its proposals to close services for young adults; and if he will make a statement.

Caroline Dinenage: No discussions have taken place. However, the Department understands that NHS England has been advised of discussions taking place between local commissioners and the hospice in seeking a solution that ensures patients continue to receive the treatment and care they need. NHS England will provide support to the relevant parties involved in these discussions, as appropriate.

Defibrillators: North West

Conor McGinn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the number of publicly accessible defibrillators in (a) St Helens North, (b) St Helens, (c) Merseyside and (d) the North West.

Steve Brine: The Department does not hold up to date information on the number of Public Access Defibrillators. Whilst St Helens Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) does not commission defibrillators for use in public areas, it has confirmed that many, if not all, general practitioner practices will have defibrillators in-house. However, the CCG does not buy or maintain these on behalf of practices. The British Heart Foundation (BHF) funded a project to determine if it was feasible and affordable to establish a national database of Public Access Defibrillators and to make this available to ambulance services. The project concluded it was feasible and the BHF has now committed the funds to implement the database and has identified an ambulance service to be the lead organisation helping the development of this database, which will be offered to all services once shown to be safe and effective.

Defibrillators

Conor McGinn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to publicise the the locations of publicly accessible defibrillators.

Steve Brine: NHS England has responsibility for cardiovascular disease (CVD) services, and works with the Resuscitation Council (UK) (RCUK), the British Heart Foundation (BHF) and others to look at ways to promote and improve cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training and the availability of Public Access Defibrillators (PADs). Since the CVD Outcomes Strategy was published in 2013, which highlighted the lives that could be saved by better CPR and availability of PADs, the Community Resuscitation Steering Group (which is chaired by the NHS England National Clinical Director for Heart Disease) has highlighted various issues and taken steps to try to improve them. These include the initiatives listed below.- RCUK, the BHF and Arrhythmia Alliance have all undertaken campaigns to increase awareness of CPR and the availability of PADs. All these organisations support the European “Restart a Heart Day” which takes place on 16 October each year and has been successful in training thousands of people in resuscitation skills;- The BHF funded a project to determine if it was feasible and affordable to establish a national database of PADs and to make this available to ambulance services. The project concluded it was feasible and the BHF has now committed the funds to make it happen and has identified an ambulance service to be the lead organisation helping the development of this database, which will later be offered to all services once shown to be safe and effective; and- HM Treasury allocated two tranches of £1 million each to purchasing more PADs and the BHF has supervised its distribution: the Government provided £1 million in the 2015 Budget to increase the availability and accessibility of PADs and numbers trained in CPR, and this led to 700 more PADs in communities across England; in the March 2016 Budget, a further £1 million was made available to make PADs and CPR training more widely available in communities across England.

Defibrillators

Conor McGinn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the merits of introducing a website and smartphone application containing data on all publicly accessible defibrillators.

Steve Brine: NHS England has responsibility for cardiovascular disease (CVD) services, and works with the Resuscitation Council (UK), the British Heart Foundation (BHF) and others to look at ways to promote and improve cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training and the availability of Public Access Defibrillators (PADs). Since the CVD Outcomes Strategy was published in 2013, which highlighted the lives that could be saved by better CPR and the availability of PADs, the Community Resuscitation Steering Group (which is chaired by the NHS England National Clinical Director for Heart Disease and has a wide range of stakeholders) has highlighted various issues and taken steps to try to improve them, including a project funded by the BHF to determine if it was feasible and affordable to establish a national database of PADs and to make this available to ambulance services. The project concluded it was feasible and the BHF has now committed the funds to implement the database and has identified an ambulance service to be the lead organisation helping the development of this database, which will be offered to all services once shown to be safe and effective.

Chiropody

Derek Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will provide education and advice on accessing podiatry services to patients considered at risk of falling.

Caroline Dinenage: Public Health England established the National Falls Prevention Coordination Group (NFPCG) in July 2016 in order to lead and coordinate falls prevention at a national level. The Group published a consensus statement in January 2017 which detailed key prevention interventions and strategic approaches to commissioning and a resource pack published in July 2018 aimed at commissioners and providers on falls prevention, bone health and healthy ageing. The NFPCG noted in its consensus statement that muscle weakness and poor balance are the main risk factors for falls and therefore the resource pack covers advice on preventing falls generally, rather than specifically focusing on access to podiatry services. The resource pack cites information sources and support for patients. Examples include NHS Choices ‘Are you at risk of falling?’ a simple online test for the user to work out if patients need to discuss their risk of falls with their general practitioner and an NHS England guide ‘A practical guide to healthy ageing’. The NHS England guide provides information on medicines reviews, exercise, preventing falls, general home safety, with tips to help older people stay both physically and mentally fit and independent, and pointers on when to seek medical support and advice. The consensus statement and resource pack are available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/falls-and-fractures-consensus-statement

Cancer: Drugs

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what drugs have been funded through the Cancer Drugs Fund this year; and how much funding remains in that Fund.

Steve Brine: Since April 2017, there are currently 27 drugs in 42 indications that are funded by the Cancer Drugs Fund (CDF). A full list of current and previous CDF drugs can be viewed at the following link: https://www.england.nhs.uk/cancer/cdf/cancer-drugs-fund-list/ The latest published spend for the first six months of 2017/18 implies a circa £76 million of unused funding for that period against the CDF. The quarterly activity report is a snapshot of CDF spend at a point in time and the spend figure will increase as more drugs are added to the fund. The link to the report can be found here: https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/cdf-activity-update-Q2-2017-18.pdf

Cancer

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people have accessed the Cancer Recovery Package in the last 12 months; and what proportion of those people had blood cancer.

Steve Brine: This information is not held centrally. NHS England is currently developing plans for national data collection.

Haematological Cancer: Mental Health Services

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 21 March 2018 to Question 132195, on Haematological Cancer: Mental Health Services, whether patients diagnosed with blood cancer but not yet starting treatment will be eligible for the Cancer Recovery Package.

Steve Brine: Every cancer patient will be eligible for the Recovery Package intervention regardless of their treatment status.

Cancer: Nurses

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether every patient diagnosed with cancer receives support from a clinical nurse specialist; and if he will make a statement.

Steve Brine: The Cancer Patient Experience Survey 2016 results show that 90% of respondents said that they were given the name of a clinical nurse specialist who would support them through their treatment. NHS England is working alongside Health Education England to expand the number of Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS) and develop clear CNS competencies and routes into training. This will ensure every cancer patient has access to a CNS or other support worker by 2021.

Haematological Cancer

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 19 March 2018 to Question 132100, on Haematological Cancer, whether he or NHS England plan to publish information on the work of multidisciplinary diagnostic centres before December 2018.

Steve Brine: The 10 multidisciplinary diagnostic centres or ‘rapid assessment and diagnostic centres’ have been described in the Progress Report on the cancer strategy published by NHS England in October 2017 at the following link: https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/national-cancer-transformation-programme-2016-17-progress.pdf The evaluation of the centres is being undertaken by the Accelerate, Co-ordinate, Evaluate Partnership, which will publish its final report in December 2018.

Dental Health: West Midlands

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if his Department will make an assessment of recent trends in the level of oral health problems in care home residents in the West Midlands.

Steve Brine: In 2016, Public Health England (PHE) reported on oral health in older people in England and Wales using data from existing surveys, which included information from a 2011 care home survey conducted in the West Midlands. The report can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/489756/What_is_known_about_the_oral_health_of_older_people.pdf The West Midlands survey involved a clinical examination as well as a manager and resident questionnaire component. At present, PHE has no plans to undertake a survey of the oral health of people in care homes.

University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many staff working for (a) the University Hospitals Coventry and (b) Warwickshire NHS Trust have been (i) non-UK EU citizens and (ii) citizens of countries outside the EU in each year since 2015.

Stephen Barclay: NHS Digital publishes workforce statistics and the staff in post data as requested is not split by the University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust. However, data is available for the number of Hospital and Community Health Service (HCHS) staff of different nationalities employed in Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust and University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust as at December in each specified year. NHS HCHS: HCHS staff in Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust and University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust by nationality group, as at the last day in December, 2015-17, headcount. Organisation nameNationality groupDecember 2015December 2016December 2017Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS TrustAll nationality groups3,8003,7783,747United Kingdom3,5913,5553,538European Union828079European Economic Area1--Rest of World123135130Unknown38-University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS TrustAll nationality groups7,3397,4917,818United Kingdom5,5285,6465,835European Union175210262European Economic Area121Rest of World494527567Unknown1,1411,1061,153Source: NHS Digital NHS HCHS workforce statistics. As of December 2017 there were over 3,600 more EU staff in the National Health Service than in June 2016.

Chiropody: Training

Derek Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of removing bursaries on the number of students studying podiatry in 2018.

Stephen Barclay: The Department is not responsible for collecting data on the number of applications to study podiatry courses. The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service publishes data on the number of applications to full-time undergraduate courses. Further information and links to 2017 and 2018 application cycle data are available at the following link: https://www.ucas.com/corporate/data-and-analysis The Department is working with relevant bodies across health and education to monitor the effects of the broader healthcare funding reforms and, as part of this, plans to publish an update, in autumn 2018, following the closure of the 2017/18 application cycle.

Health Professions: Training

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what training is provided to medical professionals on the effect of (a) diet and (b) lifestyle on (i) diabetes, (ii) obesity, (iii) heart disease, and (iv) mental ill health.

Stephen Barclay: Curricula for undergraduate level medical training is set by individual medical schools and are designed to develop the skills and attributes required of doctors to deal effectively with whatever is presented to them. The training curricula for postgraduate trainee doctors is set by the relevant medical Royal College. Whilst curricula do not necessarily highlight specific conditions for doctors to be aware of, they instead emphasise the skills and approaches that a doctor must develop in order to ensure accurate and timely diagnoses and treatment plans for their patients. The General Medical Council has the general function of promoting high standards of education and co-ordinating all stages of education to ensure that medical students and newly qualified doctors are equipped with the knowledge, skills and attitudes essential for professional practice. The majority of health problems are encountered by doctors through routine access to primary care by general practitioners (GPs), whose training curriculum for postgraduate trainee doctors is set by the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP). The curriculum set by the RCGP educates GP trainees in identifying and managing those conditions most common to primary care, and includes clinical modules on promoting health and preventing disease, cardiovascular health and care of people with mental health problems.

Mental Health Services: Cornwall

Scott Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much funding for mental health has been allocated from the public purse to Cornwall in each of the last three years; and how much such funding is planned to be allocated to Cornwall in 2018-19.

Jackie Doyle-Price: Expenditure on mental health services for the years 2015/16 and 2016/17 spend by clinical commissioning group (CCG) is available in the mental health Five Year Forward View for Mental Health (FYFVMH) dashboard, which is available at the following link: https://www.england.nhs.uk/mental-health/taskforce/imp/mh-dashboard/ For NHS Kernow CCG, which is responsible for commissioning services in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, the FYFVMH Dashboard shows that for 2015/16 its spend on mental health was £121.8 million, and for 2016/17, £120.7 million

Hospitals: Parking

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, which NHS hospitals in England charge (a) patients and (b) visitors the highest rates for one week's parking.

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many NHS hospitals in England that charge patients and visitors to park offer several modes of payments.

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many NHS hospitals in England that charge patients and visitors to park offer only one mode of payment.

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many NHS hospitals in England have designated car parking spaces for staff.

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many NHS hospitals in England provide designated car parking spaces for when a patient requires long-term treatment.

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many NHS hospitals in England have a flat rate for their car parking charges.

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, among the NHS hospitals in England that have a private financial initiative (PFI) associated with their parking facilities, what profits those PFI arrangements made in (a) 2010, (b) 2014, (c) 2015, (d) 2016 and (e) 2017.

Stephen Barclay: Information relating to hospital car parking charging rates and modes of payment within hospital car parks is not available in the format requested. Information relating to which hospitals have a Private Finance Initiative associated with their parking facilities is not collected centrally. The provision of parking spaces and the level of any charges that are made to use them are matters for individual National Health Service trusts. NHS organisations must have the autonomy to make decisions that best suit their local circumstances. Details and methods of charges, concessions and additional charges should be well publicised including at car park entrances, wherever payment is made and inside the hospital. They should also be included on the hospital website and on patient letters and forms, where appropriate. The Department published clear guidelines (the car parking principles) for NHS organisations that they are expected to follow. Hospitals should put concessions in place for those who most need help including disabled people, carers and staff who work shifts. The NHS itself is responsible for ensuring that charges are fairly applied. Patients, visitors and staff who have problems with car parking should therefore contact the NHS organisation which runs the car park.

Hospitals: Park and Ride Schemes

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has of the potential merits of a park and ride scheme tailored to shift times in NHS hospitals in England.

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing car parking in NHS hospitals in England with reduced charges or free parking in areas poorly accessible by public transport.

Stephen Barclay: National Health Service organisations must have the autonomy to make decisions that best suit their local circumstances including the provision of car parking and related transport services, such as park and ride schemes. Patients whose healthcare needs require frequent or extended access to hospitals need fair and appropriate car parking concessions and we expect hospital trusts to deliver them. The Department published clear guidelines (the car parking principles) for NHS organisations that they are expected to follow. To support delivery of these principles, Health Technical Memorandum (HTM) 07-03 NHS Car Parking Management: Environment and Sustainability was published in March 2015, and updated in December 2015. The HTM provides examples of best practice, which the Department would encourage at NHS sites. The HTM is available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nhs-car-parking-management-htm-07-03

Death Certificates

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the number of people who will benefit from reforms to the death certification process due to be introduced in April 2018.

Caroline Dinenage: The Government is committed to the introduction of medical examiners from April 2019, to provide a system of effective medical scrutiny of all non-coronial deaths. Following a public consultation on associated reforms, the Government plans to publish a response shortly, accompanied by an impact assessment which will set out the costs and benefits of the revised approach.

NHS: Staff

Ms Harriet Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people working in the NHS are employed by third party companies in (a) Camberwell and Peckham constituency and (b) England.

Stephen Barclay: Neither the Department nor its arm’s length bodies hold this information.

General Practitioners

Ms Harriet Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the average waiting time for a GP appointment was in (a) the London Borough of Southwark; (b) London and (c) England, in each of the last seven years.

Steve Brine: Information on the average waiting time for general practitioner appointments at local and national level is not collected or held centrally.

Dental Services

Ms Harriet Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to improve access to NHS dentistry services.

Steve Brine: NHS England has a legal duty to commission National Health Service primary care dental services to meet local needs. NHS England is responsible for ensuring that NHS primary dental services are accessible, and that they contribute to the prevention of dental disease, in addition to its treatment. Access nationally remains high. 22.1 million adults saw an NHS dentist in the 24 months ending in 31 December 2017 and 6.9 million children in the 12 months ending in 31 December 2017. However, there are areas where there is further to go to ensure that all those who want to access NHS dental care can do so. New ways of providing primary care dental services are being tested by the Department and NHS England which aims to further improve oral health and increase access to NHS dental services, by preventing as well as treating disease. Alongside this, is NHS England’s Starting Well programme, which aims to improve access to dental services for children known to be at greater risk of dental disease and who are not currently being seen by a dentist.

Dental Services: Southwark

Ms Harriet Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many claimants of universal credit are entitled to claim free NHS dental treatment in (a) Camberwell and Peckham constituency and (b) the London Borough of Southwark.

Steve Brine: This information is not held centrally.

NHS: Hygiene

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of automated electronic monitoring of hand gel usage as a means of collecting more accurate data on hand hygiene compliance.

Caroline Dinenage: NHS Improvement is leading work to drive down healthcare associated infections and as part of this have carried out an early assessment of electronic monitoring of hand gel usage. The technology used in some trusts is currently reliant on local data infrastructure and many existing systems would not be able to support it. It is important to note that automated monitoring of hand gel and soap usage does not address the correct techniques of hand hygiene by healthcare staff. This is important in reducing the spread of infections. NHS Improvement’s work programme for 2018/19 includes a workstream on hand hygiene compliance and monitoring. We are working with our partners across the health and social care system, including the Care Quality Commission, to ensure that consideration of best practice in hand hygiene policies remains a focus of inspections in acute trusts.

Mental Health Services: Children and Young People

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much was spent on the treatment of mental illness in children and young people in (a) 2014-15, (b) 2015-16 and (c) 2016-17.

Jackie Doyle-Price: In 2015/16, total clinical commissioning group and specialised commissioning spend on children and young people’s mental health was £835 million, rising to £960.5 million in 2016/17. We do not hold the full information required for 2014/15 given that collection of programme level spend did not begin until 2015/16.

Mental Illness: Alcoholic Drinks and Drugs

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what proportion of mental health service users have co-morbid (a) alcohol, (b) drug and (c) alcohol and drug dependence.

Jackie Doyle-Price: The information is not held in the format requested.

Death Certificates

Dr Sarah Wollaston: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress he has made on the implementation of his Department's proposals for reform of death certification by April 2019; and if he will make a statement.

Caroline Dinenage: The Government is committed to the introduction of medical examiners from April 2019, to provide a system of effective medical scrutiny of all non-coronial deaths. Following a public consultation on associated reforms, the Government plans to publish a response shortly, accompanied by an impact assessment which will set out the costs and benefits of the revised approach.

Department for Work and Pensions

Support for Mortgage Interest: Scotland

Lesley Laird: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many support for mortgage interest claimants in Scotland have been contacted by (a) letter and (b) telephone.

Kit Malthouse: At 15th March 2018, DWP has sent an estimated 460,000 individual items of correspondence to SMI claimants and made 370,000 telephone calls to claimants regarding the conversion of Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI) into a loan. Data is not broken down by region so is not available specifically for Scotland.

Department for Work and Pensions: Kirkcaldy

Lesley Laird: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent discussions she has had in respect of staff at her Department's office in Kirkcaldy; and what the outcome of those discussions has been.

Kit Malthouse: There have been no such discussions.

Universal Credit: Scotland

Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 14 March 2018 to Question 131814, on Universal Credit: Scotland, on what date his Department held early discussions with the Scottish Government on the split payment policy for universal credit; whether these discussions took the form of a meeting; and if she will make a statement.

Alok Sharma: Officials from Scottish Government and DWP are in regular contact to successfully implement Universal Credit policy in Scotland. DWP and the Scottish Government have had early discussions about the Scottish Government’s split payment policy over the past year. The most recent meeting took place on 22 March.

Universal Credit: Scotland

Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 14 March 2018 to Question 131814, on Universal Credit: Scotland, what information the Scottish Government has provided to her Department on its split payment policy; and if she will make a statement.

Alok Sharma: DWP and Scottish Government continue to share information on split payment policy to ensure a successful implementation, equivalent to the close working relationship DWP and Scottish Government successfully established to implement Scottish Choices in 2017. As this is the subject of on-going policy development between DWP and the Scottish Government, the Department is not in a position to share information it has been provided with.

Social Security Benefits: Females

Danielle Rowley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to ensure that women are able to control the way in which benefits that are paid to them as an individual are spent.

Alok Sharma: Under the equalities legislation a woman can be treated no differently to men with regards to Universal Credit.

State Retirement Pensions: Females

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many women aged between 60 and 65 are in receipt of the state pension; the level at which that state pension is paid; and how many women aged between 60 and 65 only receive their National Insurance contributions.

Guy Opperman: As at August 2017, the most recent date for which figures are available, there were 649,564 women aged between 60 and 65 years of age (inclusive) in receipt of State Pension. The average weekly amount received by these women was £136.37. Of these, 582,226 received a State Pension based on their own National Insurance contributions; either a Category A pension under the pre-2016 system, or from April 2016 under the new State Pension (nSP).

Unemployment: Older People

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many women aged between 60 and 65 are (a) unemployed and not in receipt of (i) a state pension and (ii) benefits and (b) in employment.

Alok Sharma: There are 4.7 million women aged 50+ in the UK in employment and the number of older workers in employment is at a record high with 10.1 million workers aged 50+ in the UK; an increase of 1.4 million over the last 5 years. As part of the Flexible Working Lives Strategy, the Government committed to publishing Official Annual Statistics on older workers. These can be accessed at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/economic-labour-market-status-of-individuals-aged-50-and-over-trends-over-time-september-2017 For the period Nov 2017 - Jan 2018, the UK unemployment level for women aged 50-64 is 126,000; this represents an unemployment rate of 2.9%. The data requested on the unemployment level for females aged 60-64 cannot be provided due to the sample size of this group. The breakdown by receipt of state pension and benefits is not held. In 2017, the UK employment level for females aged 60-64 was 821,000; this represents an employment rate of 45.2%.

Personal Independence Payment

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of procedures in place to ensure that personal independence payment claimants claiming under special rules receive the correct entitlement of the enhanced rate of the daily living component.

Sarah Newton: The award rate for successful claims under the Special Rules for the Terminally Ill can be found within the published date table 3A at, https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/personal-independence-payment-april-2013-to-january-2018. On average these claims are being cleared within 6 working days. These figures show that the current procedures that are in place are working well. Up to the end of January 2018 there are 24037 Personal Independence Payments SRTI claimants entitled to the enhanced rate of the Daily Living Component.

Cold Weather Payments: Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath

Lesley Laird: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what information her Department holds on the number of people in Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath constituency who have been eligible for cold weather payments since the beginning of 2018.

Kit Malthouse: The Cold Weather Payment scheme is administered at weather station level rather than any other standard GB geography such as constituency level. The coverage area for each weather station is determined by the Met Office which assesses the most appropriate weather station for each postcode area. Cold Weather Payments are triggered when the average temperature recorded at the weather station has been recorded as, or is forecast to be, 0oC or below over seven consecutive days. The estimated numbers of Cold Weather Payments are produced at a weather station level and cannot be broken down further. As a result, the estimate given below is subject to a margin of error when matching to the Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath constituency. The postcode areas within Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath constituency are covered by the Edinburgh Gogarbank, Leuchars, and Strathallan weather stations. Since 1st January 2018, an estimated 86,000 eligible recipients in coverage of these weather stations have received at least one Cold Weather Payment. Not all of these eligible recipients will live within the Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath constituency.

Cold Weather Payments: Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath

Lesley Laird: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what information her Department holds on the number of people in Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath constituency who have applied for cold weather payments in 2018.

Kit Malthouse: You do not need to apply for a Cold Weather Payment, if you are eligible you will usually be paid automatically. Therefore, my Department doesn’t hold any information on the number of people in Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath constituency who have applied for a cold weather payment.

Universal Credit: Disqualification

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make a comparative assessment of the level of sanctions imposed on claimants of universal credit and claimants of other benefits; and if she will make a statement.

Alok Sharma: There are differences between sanctions policy in Universal Credit and other benefits. It is for this reason that a comparative assessment cannot be made.For instance, a Jobseeker’s Allowance claimant would have their claim closed if they fail to attend a Work Coach meeting and do not make contact within 5 days. This does not register as a sanction.Under Universal Credit, these same claimants would be referred for a sanction, but to ensure that they continue to receive other elements that they are entitled to, which might cover payment for children and housing costs, their claims are not closed. Accordingly, the numbers of sanctions will appear higher in Universal Credit, as actions which would have previously resulted in a closed claim now appear as a sanction against part of the individual’s allowance.This does not reflect a tougher approach on sanctions, rather that Universal Credit is designed to provide continuous support to our claimants and, unlike other benefits, to ensure that all payment is not stopped while we investigate the reasons for the loss of contact with the claimant, and work to re-establish our relationship with them.

Sick Leave: Mental Illness

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to provide (a) financial and (b) other support for people who require time away from work for mental health conditions.

Sarah Newton: As set out in the recent Command Paper, Improving Lives: the Future of Work, Health and Disability, we believe people should get the support they need whatever their health condition or disability, whether that’s from their employer, from the health system or from the welfare system. “Thriving at work”, the independent review by Lord Stevenson and Paul Farmer, set out core and enhanced standards which employers should implement to ensure that their employees receive the right support to enable them to manage their mental health. We also want to reform the Statutory Sick Pay system so that it supports more flexible working, to help people remain or return to work if they are unwell. We are taking forward further policy development and will bring forward a consultation on these changes, as well as any other SSP changes we identify in our wider work, before introducing this reform. There is a range of support for employers to help them recruit and retain disabled people and people with health conditions, including Disability Confident and the Access to Work Mental Health Support Service. We are also exploring how to shape, fund and deliver transformational change to provide effective occupational health services that can support all in work.This is all part of our drive to highlight to employers the need to recognise the business reasons for recruiting and retaining disabled people and people with health conditions, managing ill-health effectively and creating healthy work places.

Work Capability Assessment

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of (a) the accuracy of decisions on Fit for Work assessments, and (b) trends in the level of initial decisions overturned by HM Courts and Tribunal Service between October 2013 and December 2016.

Sarah Newton: Statistics on appeal outcomes for Fit for Work decisions in initial assessment by month of claim start are given in Table 3 of the quarterly official statistics bulletin, “Employment and Support Allowance: Outcomes of Work Capability Assessments, Great Britain”, available at:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/esa-outcomes-of-work-capability-assessments-including-mandatory-reconsiderations-and-appeals-march-2018. Whilst the statistics indicate an increasing trend in overturned decisions at appeal these need to be considered in the context of ESAWCA decisions as a whole: between April 2014 and September 2017, 3.1 million ESA WCA decisions were made, of which 8 per cent were appealed and 4 per cent overturned at appeal; andthe majority of decisions are overturned because of new or additional evidence provided to the tribunal, that has not previously be seen by a DWP decision maker. This could be new written evidence or the claimants oral evidence given at the hearing. The Department has work in progress to drive continuous improvement: recruitment of 150 Presenting Officers for PIP and ESA, to represent DWP and provide valuable insight into why decisions are overturned; tests exploring how we can improve evidence gathering and quality of decision making; and a new quality strategy to ensure a joined up approach across all aspects of mandatory reconsideration, keeping the claimant at the heart of the process.

Home Office

Reoffenders

Ian C. Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps the police take when an individual on licence from prison is arrested and charged with a criminal offence in connection with possible breach of licence conditions.

Mr Nick Hurd: Decisions as to the action taken by the police in such cases are operational matters for the police. They will depend on the facts of each individual case, guided by information obtained from HM Prisons and Probation Service on the licence conditions and particular risks identified in prison.

Home Office: Trade Fairs

Mr Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many visitors attended the Home Office Security and Policing event in each year since 2012.

Mr Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many exhibitors attended the Home Office Security and Policing event in each year since 2012.

Mr Nick Hurd: The Home Office Security & Policing event is organised by the UK Aerospace, Defence & Security (ADS) trade body on behalf of the Home Office. ADS are responsible for the administrative arrangements and hold data on exhibitor and visitor numbers which is not routinely published.

Police: Cameras

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether it is mandatory for police officers to switch on body-worn video cameras when they arrive at the scene of an incident; and what guidance is provided to police officers on this matter.

Mr Nick Hurd: The use of body-worn video cameras is an operational matter for policing. The College of Policing guidance on its application can be found at the following link:http://library.college.police.uk/docs/college-of-policing/Body-worn-video-guidance-2014.pdf

Offences against Children

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to ensure there are enough detectives to support investigations into child sexual abuse.

Mr Nick Hurd: This Government has made child sexual abuse a national threat in order to empower forces to maximise their specialist skills and resources. In 2016, the Home Secretary awarded £1.9m to the College of Policing through the Police Transformation Fund to accelerate its vulnerability training programme, including work to strengthen training for specialist child abuse investigators.In its 2017 Effectiveness report, published on 22 March 2018, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services recommend that by September 2018, all forces with a shortage in qualified detectives should develop an action plan, working with the NPCC. I fully support this recommendation.HMICFRS’s recommendations are primarily for police leaders to take action and ensure progress is made. We welcome the work done by Chief Constable Matt Jukes on behalf of NPCC, together with the College of Policing, to improve analysis of the nature and scale of the reported shortages of investigators and to form an action plan.

Passports: Contracts

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department's policy on the contract to print UK passports included local value for the North East.

Caroline Nokes: Bidders for the next passport design, manufacture and personalisation contract were required to meet requirements to comply with the Social Value Act, and commit to the Government’s Procurement for Growth agenda.These requirements did not specify or give preference to any UK region.

Visas

Kirsty Blackman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of applications for visitor visas from each country were accepted in the most recent 12-month period for which data is available.

Caroline Nokes: Applications for visit visas are considered against Appendix V of the Immigration Rules and on a case by case basis. Detailed information on how UK Visas and Immigration makes decisions on visitor cases is published at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/visit-guidanceInformation on total entry clearance visas (the majority of which are visitor visas) broken down by nationality and outcome (grants, refusals, withdrawals, lapsed) is published in the quarterly Immigration Statistics Visas volume 1 table vi_01_q at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/immigration-statistics-october-to-december-2017).

Visas: Sponsorship

Kirsty Blackman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many employers have (a) applied for and (b) been refused UK Visa and Immigration sponsorship status in the last four years.

Caroline Nokes: The specific information requested is not included in statistics published by the Home Office.The number of new sponsor licence applications, and the number of sponsors registered on points based system (PBS) routes, is published on the Home Office website:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/migration-transparency-data#uk-visas-and-immigration

Fires

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the Incident Reporting System on fires caused by electricity.

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the Incident Reporting System for fires caused by electrical goods in domestic homes includes fires caused by (a) mobile phone chargers and (b) e-cigarettes.

Mr Nick Hurd: The Home Office regularly considers how best to review both the IRS functionality and data collection, to ensure they continue to meet the needs of FRSs and other data users, particularly in light of the Fire Reform Agenda.Fires related to mobile phone chargers are currently captured under the category ‘Battery Charger’ and although there is not a specific category for e-cigarettes, FRSs record fires related to these under the ‘other’ category.Home Office officials have regular discussions with fire and rescue services about the data collected through the Incident Recording System and collect feedback about the IRS to feed into future reviews.

Refugees

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people resettled under the Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme met all of the following criteria, (a) women and girls at risk, (b) survivors of violence or torture and (c) refugees with medical needs or disabilities.

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many women and girls have been resettled from Iraq under (a) the Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme and (b) the Vulnerable Children's Resettlement Scheme.

Caroline Nokes: The Home Office is committed to publishing data in an orderly way as part of the regular quarterly Immigration Statistics, in line with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics. The statistics are available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/immigration-statistics-quarterly-release.A quarterly breakdown of resettlements by scheme and nationality is published in table as19q of the Asylum data tables volume 4. We do not publish the numbers of those resettled by host country, eligibility criteria, age or gender.

Asylum: Voluntary Work

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make it her policy to allocate funding for volunteering opportunities for people seeking asylum in (a) the West Midlands and (b) Coventry.

Caroline Nokes: Our policy is clear that we encourage asylum seekers to seek out volunteering activities, which can provide a valuable contribution to their local community and may help them to integrate into society if they qualify for protection. However, we have no plans to allocate funding for this.

Engineers and Scientists: Visas

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 26 March 2018 to Question 133795, on Engineers and Scientists: Visas, whether it is her policy not to publish the data referred to.

Caroline Nokes: The specific information requested is not included in statistics published by the Home Office. For consistency, the Department refers to official published statistics and data is no longer provided in the format requested.

Police Custody: Children

Ms Harriet Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many children living in the London Borough of Southwark spent time in a police station as a place of safety as a result of a mental health condition, in each of the last 7 years.

Mr Nick Hurd: The information requested is not held by the Home Office.Data published by the Home Office in relation to section 135 and 136 detentions by the police in 2016/17 is collated by police force area (Police Powers and Procedures England and Wales year ending 31 March 2017 https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/police-powers-and-procedures-england-and-wales-year-ending-31-march-2017).This indicates that one person under the age of 18 was taken to a police station as a place of safety in the Metropolitan Police area in 2016/17. Figures published by the National Police Chiefs Council indicate that one person under the age of 18 was detained in a police station as a place of safety in the Metropolitan Police area in each of 2014/15 and 2015/16.

Northern Ireland Office

Hillsborough Castle

Tommy Sheppard: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how much funding has been allocated to Historic Royal Palaces for the (a) management, (b) maintenance, and (c) running of Hillsborough Castle in each year since 2014.

Mr Shailesh Vara: The funding allocated to Historic Royal Palaces in each year since 2014 for expenditure at Hillsborough Castle is shown below: Expenditure2014-152015-162016-172017-18Total £’000£’000£’000£’000£’000Management-----Maintenance1492833Running Costs1,5828281-1,745Total1,596918381,778

Hillsborough Castle

Tommy Sheppard: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how much has been spent on repairs to Hillsborough Castle in each of the past 10 years.

Mr Shailesh Vara: Expenditure on repairs to Hillsborough Castle in each of the past 10 years is shown below:  10-1111-1212-1313-1414-1515-1616-1717-18 £’000£’000£’000£’000£’000£’000£’000£’000Repairs Expenditure18535031734014928 Details for the years preceding are not retained by the department.

Treasury

Companies: Taxation

Anneliese Dodds: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the effect of bespoke tax agreements between the Government and UK companies on the total tax take in the UK.

Anneliese Dodds: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what is the total number of companies that have entered into a bespoke tax agreement with the UK in each year since 2010.

Mel Stride: The concept of a “bespoke tax agreement” does not exist in law. HMRC deals with individual and corporate taxpayers in accordance with its published Litigation and Settlement Strategy: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/655344/HMRC_Resolving_tax_disputes.pdf

Public Sector: Pensions

Stephen Kerr: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the consequences will be for public sector employees whose pensions have been overpaid as a result of incorrect guaranteed minimum pension calculations.

Elizabeth Truss: Where a ministerial department is responsible for the appropriate pension scheme, it is for them to determine, in accordance with Managing Public Money (July 2013, Annex 4.11), whether and how overpayments are to be recovered. If departments determine that it is not feasible to recover overpayments, they will need to bring the resultant losses to parliament’s attention. In the case of the local government pension scheme, decisions on whether and how to recover overpayments are matters for the relevant local authority.

Taxation: Developing Countries

Steve McCabe: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 1 February to Question 124952 on Taxation: Developing Countries, whether his Department (a) commissioned and (b) conducted an analysis of the effect of tax treaties on the promotion of international trade and investment.

Mel Stride: The UK government has not undertaken such an analysis.

Horizon 2020

Mr Jonathan Djanogly: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the Government plans to underwrite competitive grant awards made during the transition period by the European Commission to UK organisations including universities participating in Horizon 2020.

Elizabeth Truss: Subject to an overall withdrawal agreement being reached with the EU, UK people and organisations will be able to bid for grant funding, participate in and lead consortia in Horizon 2020 and other EU programmes during the implementation period. They will continue to participate in programme projects until their final closure. This includes the tail of Horizon 2020 projects that continue beyond 2020. If no overall agreement is reached, the UK government will guarantee the payment of awards where UK people and organisations successfully bid directly to the European Commission on a competitive basis for EU funding projects while the UK remains an EU member. This will include Horizon 2020 projects.

Revenue and Customs: Length of Service

Anneliese Dodds: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many permanent HMRC staff in post at the end of financial year 2010-11 had worked for the organisation for (a) under five years, (b) five to nine years, (c) 10 to 19 years and (d) more than 19 years.

Mel Stride: The number of people employed by HMRC for the year ending 31 March 2011 was 74,380. This figure is broken down by how long people have been employed in the Civil Service (not specifically HMRC) as follows: a) Under 5 years: 6,770 b) 5 – 9 years: 15,352 c) 10 – 19 years: 16,275 d) 19+ years: 35,983 The information is provided in this format to accurately reflect the length of service for employees who belonged to legacy departments, for example Inland Revenue, Customs & Excise and Contributions Agency as well as other Government Departments.

Import Duties: Metals

Mrs Anne Main: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much duty has been paid on imports of (a) tin, (b)tantalum and (c) tungsten and molybdenum into the UK since 2010.

Mel Stride: The duty paid on these imports is set out in the table attached. Table: Customs Duty Paid on Non-EU Imports of Tin, Tungsten, Molybdenum and Tantalum, 2014*-2017 (*earliest duty data available)



customs duty paid
(Word Document, 72.72 KB)

Markets: VAT

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the policy of the Inland Revenue on street and other similar markets not attracting VAT has changed; and whether the Government has plans for such changes.

Mel Stride: HM Revenue and Customs has not changed its policy on VAT in relation to street or similar markets. If there is a passive supply of an interest in land then the supply will normally be exempt from VAT. However if the main supply is something other than just a supply of land, then the VAT treatment will be determined by the VAT rules relating to the main supply.

Markets: VAT

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the Upper Tax Tribunal decision that VAT (a) is due on the hire of pitches at organised events and (b) liability goes back up to four years; and if he will make a statement.

Mel Stride: The decision of the Upper Tribunal in relation to VAT on the hire of pitches at organised events supported HM Revenue and Customs’ policy that such supplies were not exempt supplies of land. The main supply was that of access to a market place. Depending on the facts of each case, HMRC are normally only able to assess for any under declared tax going back 4 years.

Children: Day Care

Tracy Brabin: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 20 March 2018 to Question 132796, on Children: Day Care, if he will ensure that the Government makes available further opportunities for hon. Members to voice concerns on the planned closure of Childcare Vouchers to new applicants.

Stephanie Peacock: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 26 March to Question 133822 on Childcare Vouchers, if he will facilitate parliamentary scrutiny of the relevant day regulations required to close the childcare vouchers scheme to new entrants in October 2018.

Elizabeth Truss: Colleagues were given the opportunity to voice their concerns about the closure of childcare vouchers to new entrants during the SI debate on the 13th March. To reflect concerns raised about the timing of the closure and the transition to Tax-Free Childcare, the government announced that childcare vouchers would remain open for a further six months. It is for both Parliament and the Business Managers, in conjunction with the usual channels, to decide what future business is debated in the House. Today the government has made the relevant day order which sets 4th October 2018 as the date when childcare vouchers and directly contracted childcare will close to new entrants. This will allow more time for Tax-Free Childcare to bed in, for awareness to increase and for families to understand the support they can receive under the scheme. Now that Tax-Free Childcare is fully rolled out, the government will keep it under review to ensure it is delivering the support needed for working families.

Tax Avoidance

Dr Rosena Allin-Khan: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his Department is taking to recoup money from employers who have paid into disguised remuneration schemes.

Mel Stride: Disguised remuneration (DR) schemes are tax avoidance schemes which attempt to avoid an income tax charge and National Insurance contributions on earnings. This government has legislated a package of measures to ensure those who have used DR schemes pay their fair share of tax. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has highlighted the consequences of participating in DR tax avoidance schemes through its ‘Spotlight’ publications and encouraged employers and individuals to settle their tax affairs. Many employers have already settled their liabilities and on 7 November 2017 HMRC published settlement terms on GOV.UK giving those in DR schemes a further opportunity to settle ahead of the DR loan charge which arises on 5 April 2019.

Trusts

Peter Dowd: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the number of people who have registered trusts with the Trusts Registration Service in the last 12 months.

Mel Stride: The Trusts Registration Service was created following the implementation of the EU Fourth Money Laundering Directive to combat money laundering and terrorist financing. The Service went live last year and to date there are 89,439 trusts registered.

Revenue and Customs: Staff

Deidre Brock: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many staff are employed by HMRC in each region; and how many staff will be employed in each HMRC regional hub when those hubs are fully operational.

Mel Stride: The number of full time equivalent (FTE) staff currently employed by HMRC in each region, together with the number who will be based in each HMRC Regional Centre, is set out in the table below. Additionally HMRC will be retaining a Headquarters, five Specialist sites and six Transitional Sites which will remain operational after the opening of the regional centres, as set out in the table below. The Ipswich Transitional site will become a Specialist Site in 2026. HMRC is still finalising its plans for its regional centres in Nottingham and Newcastle and for the second phases of Glasgow and Manchester. The figures included in the table are what has been previously announced.RegionCurrent FTE @ 28/02/2018Regional CentreFTE Specialist SiteFTETransitional siteFTE Scotland7738Edinburgh2,680Gartcosh260East Kilbride1,100Glasgow (Phase 1)2,670Northern Ireland1773Belfast1,780Wales4038Cardiff3,600North East9834Newcastle5,300 to 5,600  Washington2,100North West11336Liverpool3,500Manchester (Phase 1)2000  Salford2,500Yorkshire & the Humber4136Leeds3,850West Midlands3871Birmingham2,650Telford600  East Midlands3114Nottingham2,500 to 2,800South West1375Bristol1,350London, South East and East12,522Croydon2,700Dover140Reading550Stratford3,800Worthing900Portsmouth850Westminster HQ1,000Ipswich Ipswich450 Current FTE includes staff who are assumed to be transferring to DWP. This is particularly relevant in Scotland and the North West.

Government Departments: Contracts

Stella Creasy: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, on what dates the (a) Permanent Secretary and (b) Ministers of his Department have met representatives of (i) Beatty, (ii) Barclays, (iii) Dalmore Capital, (iv) Equitix, (v) Innisfree, (vi) Interserve, (vii) Semperian and (viii) Veolia since 31 December 2017; and who attended those meetings.

Robert Jenrick: Treasury Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery.Details of ministerial and permanent secretary meetings with external organisations on departmental business are published on a quarterly basis and are available at:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmt-ministers-meetings-hospitality-gifts-and-overseas-travel andhttps://www.gov.uk/government/collections/senior-officials-expenses

Government Departments: Contracts

Stella Creasy: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether staff in his Department, excluding the Permanent Secretary and Ministers, have held meetings or made contact with (a) Beatty, (b) Barclays, (c) Dalmore Capital, (d) Equitix, (e) Innisfree, (f) Interserve, (g) Semperian and (h) Veolia to discuss procurement or public finance policy in the last 12 months.

Robert Jenrick: Details of meetings or contact made with the listed suppliers to discuss procurement or public finance policy is not readily available and could be provided only at a disproportionate cost. Permanent Secretary and Ministers meetings are covered in the data published on the 23 March 2018 and can be found following the link: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmt-ministers-meetings-hospitality-gifts-and-overseas-travel

Consumer Goods: Instalment Credit

Frank Field: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the effect of the rent-to-own market on the financial vulnerability of households on low incomes.

Frank Field: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the effect of sales incentives for staff working in the rent-to-own and doorstep-lending industries on outcomes for financial vulnerable customers.

Frank Field: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to introduce a cap on the total repayable cost to the consumer of rent-to-own goods.

John Glen: The Government transferred the regulation of consumer credit, including rent-to-own, to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in 2014 and has given the FCA strong powers to protect consumers. This was demonstrated by the FCA announcement in October 2017 that BrightHouse, a rent-to-own firm, would pay over £14.8 million in redress to 249,000 customers in respect of agreements which may not have been affordable, and payments which should have been refunded.The Government has also given the FCA the power to cap all forms of credit, and the FCA can do so if it thinks it is necessary to protect consumers.The FCA’s review of the high-cost credit sector has identified concerns about the high costs of rent-to-own borrowing for what is a particularly vulnerable consumer group, and the consequences of that borrowing. The Government welcomes the FCA’s ongoing work to review the high-cost credit market, including the rent-to-own sector. The FCA aims to consult on proposed remedies in spring 2018.The FCA has consulted on proposed rules and guidance on staff incentives, remuneration and performance management in consumer credit firms, and published final rules on 27 March 2018. The rules will require firms to identify and manage risks arising from remuneration and performance management practices, and will come into force on 1 October.

Gaming Machines

Carolyn Harris: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether Ministers of his Department have held meetings with (a) bookmakers and (b) Association of British Bookmakers on the level of stakes for fixed odds betting terminals.

Carolyn Harris: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, which stakeholders (a) he and (b) officials of his Department have met with to discuss fixed odds betting terminals.

Mel Stride: The level of stakes on gaming machines is a regulatory matter for the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and the Gambling Commission. Details of ministerial meetings with external bodies are published at HMT ministers' meetings, hospitality, gifts and overseas travel - GOV.UKOfficials meet regularly with stakeholders from across the gambling sector to hear their views on the gambling market, and a range of economic and policy issues.

Gaming Machines

Carolyn Harris: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has had discussions with leaders of faith groups on changes to the levels of stakes on fixed odds betting terminals.

Robert Jenrick: The level of stakes on gaming machines is a regulatory matter for the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and the Gambling Commission. Details of ministerial meetings with external bodies are published at HMT ministers' meetings, hospitality, gifts and overseas travel - GOV.UK.

Bookmakers: Money Laundering

Carolyn Harris: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has had discussions with the Gambling Commission on money laundering and bookmakers since the recent fine of the bookmaker William Hill.

John Glen: The Treasury frequently engages with the Gambling Commission on a range of issues, including in relation to anti-money laundering supervision. The Gambling Commission is a member of the Money Laundering Advisory Committee that is chaired by the Treasury and Home Office and was actively engaged during the process of drafting the most recent National Risk Assessment 2017.The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) Ministers and officials also have regular discussions with the Gambling Commission on a range of issues.

Bookmakers: Money Laundering

Carolyn Harris: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has made a recent (a) assessment of the level of risk of money laundering in the bookmakers sector and (b) estimate of the loss to the public purse through such money laundering by means of fixed odds betting terminals; and if he will make a statement.

John Glen: The UK’s second National Risk Assessment of money laundering and terrorist financing was published in October 2017, following the first National Risk Assessment in 2015. These publications provided comprehensive assessments of the money laundering and terrorist financing risks that the UK faces, across all regulated and various unregulated sectors. The 2017 NRA continued to assess the retail betting sector, including bookmakers, as low risk for both money laundering and terrorist financing. There is no available estimate of the loss to the public purse through money laundering by means of fixed odds betting terminals. The Government acknowledges that there are significant costs associated with economic crime and money laundering in general, and is committed to making the UK economy a hostile environment for illicit finance. However, as stated above, the 2017 National Risk Assessment assessed the risk of money laundering through the retail betting sector as low.

Business Bank Italy

Anneliese Dodds: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Answer of 12 March 2018 to Question 131145 on Business Bank Italy, whether he set a timescale for the Financial Conduct Authority to respond to the letter to the hon. Member for Oxford East.

John Glen: HM Treasury officials have spoken with the Financial Conduct Authority, who have said that they will respond in the next week to the questions raised by the honourable lady in Question 131145.

Metals: Import Duties

Mrs Anne Main: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much (a) tin, (b) tantalum, (c) tungsten and (d) molybdenum has been imported into the UK as scrap metal exempt of import duty in each year since 2010.

Mel Stride: The value and weight of these imports is set out in the tables attached.



table 1 and 2 
(Word Document, 142.63 KB)

Metals: Imports

Mrs Anne Main: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much (a) tin, (b) tantalum, (c) tungsten and (d) molybdenum has been imported into the UK in each year since 2010.

Mel Stride: The value and weight of these imports is set out in the tables attached.



tables 1 and 2 
(Word Document, 130.74 KB)

Child Care Vouchers: Northern Ireland

Stephanie Peacock: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 26 March 2018 to Question 133825 on Child Care Vouchers: Northern Ireland, what estimate he has made of the cost of additional childcare support in Northern Ireland; and whether he plans to allocate additional funding for that support.

Elizabeth Truss: Early education is a devolved matter for a restored Northern Ireland Executive. We have made no assessment of the cost of providing additional childcare in Northern Ireland.We have delivered successful childcare policies for working parents in England, and are willing to engage and provide advice to the Northern Ireland parties and the Northern Ireland Civil Service based on our experience of developing and administering these policies in England.

Retail Trade: Fraud

Alex Chalk: To ask the Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps the Government is taking to ensure (a) retailers and (b) consumers are aware of (i) the ITunes HMRC and (ii) other scams.

Mel Stride: HMRC has a dedicated Customer Protection team which targets scams. On iTunes, HMRC has: Worked with Apple to introduce warnings on vouchersJoined up with gov.uk, Action Fraud, & Financial Fraud Action to increase awarenessWritten to retailers encouraging staff training around i-tunes scams To reduce other scams, HMRC has: Worked with the mobile industry, delivering a 90% reduction in reported abuse of HMRC branded SMS textsChallenged ownership of misleading domains, and diverted over 2m visits to gov.uk educational pagesHad over 1m visits to gov.uk scam-education pagesRequested removal of over 12,000 malicious websites since April

Listed Buildings: VAT

Lee Rowley: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment the Government has made of the potential merits of introducing a VAT exemption for goods and services required for the (a) repair, (b) maintenance and (c) renovation of Grade II listed buildings used for (i) community and (ii) religious events after the UK leaves the EU.

Mel Stride: EU VAT rules do not allow the introduction of a reduced rate or exemption for goods and services supplied exclusively for the repair, maintenance and renovations of Grade II listed buildings used for community and religious events. While the UK remains a member of the EU, we will continue to abide by our rights and obligations. Our future relationship with the EU, including on VAT, is subject to negotiation. Any future decisions on VAT will continue to be taken in line with the normal Budget process.

Stamp Duty Land Tax: Tax Allowances

Peter Dowd: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people received relief from Stamp Duty Land Tax on transfers involving demutualisation of an insurance company in (a) 2015-16, (b) 2016-17 and (c) 2017-18.

Peter Dowd: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people received relief from Stamp Duty Land Tax on transfers involving Diplomatic Privileges Relief  in (a) 2015-16, (b) 2016-17 and (c) 2017-18.

Peter Dowd: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people received relief from Stamp Duty Land Tax on transfers involving Collective Enfranchisement by Leaseholders in (a) 2015-16, (b) 2016-17 and (c) 2017-18.

Peter Dowd: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people received relief from Stamp Duty Land Tax on transfers involving compliance with planning obligations in (a) 2015-16, (b) 2016-17 and (c) 2017-18.

Peter Dowd: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people received relief from Stamp Duty Land Tax on transfers involving right to buy transactions in (a) 2015-16, (b) 2016-17 and (c) 2017-18.

Peter Dowd: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people received relief from Stamp Duty Land Tax on transfers involving transfers in consequence of reorganisation of parliamentary constituencies in (a) 2015-16, (b) 2016-17 and (c) 2017-18.

Peter Dowd: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people received relief from Stamp Duty Land Tax on transfers involving alternative property finance in (a) 2015-16, (b) 2016-17 and (c) 2017-18.

Peter Dowd: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people received relief from Stamp Duty Land Tax on transfers involving alternative finance investment bonds in (a) 2015-16, (b) 2016-17 and (c) 2017-18.

Mel Stride: The table below shows the number of land and property transactions which claimed relief from Stamp Duty Land Tax for each of the requested categories. A single transaction can be made by one or more individuals, or one or more non-natural persons. Figures are rounded to the nearest 100; “-” denotes that there are fewer than 50 transactions claiming reliefs. Estimates of the number of transactions claiming reliefs from SDLTa) 2015-16b) 2016-17c) Apr 2017 to Oct 2017Right to buy transactions1,2001,200600Compliance with planning obligation---Collective enfranchisement by leaseholders (does not apply in Scotland)200200100Diplomatic privileges---Demutualisation of insurance company---alternative finance investment bonds---Alternative property finance---Transfer in consequence of reorganisation of parliamentary constituencies200200100

Stamp Duty Land Tax: Tax Allowances

Peter Dowd: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people received relief from corporation tax on land remediation relief in (a) 2015-16, (b) 2016-17 and (c) 2017-18.

Mel Stride: HMRC estimates that companies made 1310 claims for land remediation relief for 2015‑16. Information on claims for 2016-17 and 2017-18 is not yet available.

National Insurance Benefits: Tax Allowances

Peter Dowd: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people received income tax relief on NI benefit child dependancy additions in (a) 2015-16, (b) 2016-17 and (c) 2017-18.

Mel Stride: Estimates of the number of people who received relief on NI benefit child dependency additions cannot be provided as there are fewer than 0.1m individuals estimated to benefit in each year.

Government Securities: Tax Allowances

Peter Dowd: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people received reliefs with tax expenditure and structural components on exemption of British Government securities where owner not ordinarily resident in UK in (a) 2015-16, (b) 2016-17 and (c) 2017-18.

Mel Stride: This information is not available. HMRC publish estimates of the value of this relief in the “Estimated Costs of Tax Reliefs” publication, but these are constructed from aggregate financial data which does not contain information on the number of individuals.

Married People: Tax Allowances

Peter Dowd: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people received reliefs with tax expenditure and structural components on marriage allowance in (a) 2015-16, (b) 2016-17 and (c) 2017-18.

Mel Stride: In 2015/16, 644,916 couples claimed Marriage Allowance.In 2016/17, 1,172,792 couples claimed Marriage Allowance (in addition to those who claimed in 2015/16). The total number of couples up to 27 March 2018 that have successfully claimed Marriage Allowance, including claims made in 2017/18, is 2,794,024. Eligible couples who have yet to claim Marriage Allowance for the 2015/16 tax year will not lose out as they have until 5 April 2020 to do so.

Income Tax: Tax Allowances

Peter Dowd: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people received income tax age-related personal allowances in (a) 2015-16, (b) 2016-17 and (c) 2017-18.

Mel Stride: An estimate of the number of people who received income tax age-related personal allowances in 2015-16, 2016-17, and 2017-18 is shown below:  2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 Number of Individuals (thousands) 1,60000  From 2013-14 the age-related personal allowances were frozen until they were aligned with the personal allowance. In 2015-16 the age-related personal allowance for individuals born before 6 April 1938 was higher than the personal allowance. The age-related personal allowances were fully aligned with the personal allowance from 2016-17, which is why there are no people shown in the table as having age-related personal allowances in that year and the next. These estimates are based on the 2014-15 Survey of Personal Incomes, projected using economic assumptions consistent with the Office for Budget Responsibility’s November 2017 Economic and Fiscal Outlook.

Galileo System

Vicky Ford: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what contribution the UK has made to the European Union's Global Satellite Navigation System to date.

Elizabeth Truss: The UK contributes to the EU budget as a whole, not the individual programmes.Details of the UK’s contribution to the EU budget can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/european-union-finances-2017Details of the EU’s spending on programmes can be found here: http://ec.europa.eu/budget/figures/interactive/index_en.cfm

Copernicus Programme

Vicky Ford: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what contribution the UK has made to the Copernicus Programme to date.

Elizabeth Truss: The UK contributes to the EU budget as a whole, not the individual programmes.Details of the UK’s contribution to the EU budget can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/european-union-finances-2017Details of the EU’s spending on programmes can be found here: http://ec.europa.eu/budget/figures/interactive/index_en.cfm

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Television: Licensing

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if he will consider replacing the BBC licence fee with an alternative funding model.

Margot James: We have committed to maintain the licence fee funding model for the BBC for the duration of this 11 year Charter period.

Broadband

Dr Lisa Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps the Government is taking to ensure internet service providers supply customers with the broadband speed those providers have advertised is available for that region.

Margot James: By 2020 the Universal Service Obligation (USO) will give everyone the legal right to high speed broadband of at least 10Mbps. We created new powers for this in the Digital Economy Act 2017, and subsequently ran a public consultation on the design of the USO, which we will be setting in secondary legislation very shortly. Ofcom will then be responsible for implementing the USO, including designating the universal service providers and the design of an industry cost-sharing fund.

Tourism: National Income

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what proportion of gross domestic product tourism accounts for.

Michael Ellis: In 2016 Tourism accounted for £66bn GVA, which was 14.2% of the total UK GVA.

Tourism

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he is taking to promote domestic tourism in England.

Michael Ellis: In November 2015, the Government announced the £40 million Discover England Fund (DEF), an unprecedented opportunity for investment in improving English tourism product. We have been working with VisitEngland to encourage more domestic visitors to explore the country and discover all there is to see and experience on their doorstep this spring. For example, the annual celebration of English tourism, English Tourism Week has just concluded. Further details can be found here: https://www.visitbritain.org/english-tourism-week. VisitEngland have various projects aimed at promoting domestic tourism and building our domestic product, such a rail ‘final mile’ campaign and developing food hubs across the country. VisitEngland also worked with VisitScotland and Visit Wales to launch a major domestic campaign for summer 2017, focussed on encouraging young people to holiday at home.

Tourism

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what the value to the economy of domestic tourism was in each of the last five years.

Michael Ellis: Domestic Trip expenditure in England over the past five years are as follows (£millions):  20122013201420152016Overnight£19,389£18,567£17,943£19,503£18,466Day Trips£51,614£49,031£48,485£49,437£50,910

Broadband: Rural Areas

Martyn Day: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 18 December 2017 to Question 120034 on Broadband: Universal Service Obligation, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that people living in rural areas who request a broadband connection from a designated provider under the Universal Service Obligation is only charged up to a reasonable cost threshold.

Margot James: Under the proposed broadband Universal Service Obligation, it will be for industry rather than the consumer to cover the cost of connection up a reasonable cost threshold of £3,400. We also proposed that for premises where the cost of the connection exceeds this threshold, consumers would have the option of paying the excess costs in order to get connected. We set out the full details of our proposals in our consultation on the design of the Universal Service Obligation (USO) https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/broadband-universal-service-obligation-consultation-on-design. We will shortly be publishing our full response to the consultation and setting the overall design for the USO in secondary legislation.

Music

Scott Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent steps his Department has taken to support the live music industry in (a) Cornwall and (b) England.

Margot James: The live music industry is a vital part of the UK’s music ecosystem, contributing £1bn to the economy in 2016 and must be allowed to continue to thrive. We have recently reformed both licensing and planning guidance and will continue working with industry and Whitehall colleagues on a range of issues affecting the live music industry. Arts Council England recently announced just under £10m funding for National Portfolio organisations in Cornwall from 2018-22, including Hall for Cornwall which hosts a live music programme and Creative Kernow's Cornwall Music Network.

Tickets: Sales

Ged Killen: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment the Government has made of the effect on the revenue of the entertainment and sports industries of consumers paying higher prices for tickets purchased through secondary sites and less on further tickets and purchases at music and sports venues.

Ged Killen: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the steps taken by the Advertising Standards Authority as a result of its investigation into the big four secondary ticketing websites; and if he will make a statement.

Ged Killen: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the effect on the (a) frequency and (b) viability of large-scale automated ticket reselling of the (a) Digital Economy Act 2017 and (b) other recent steps the Government has taken.

Margot James: We are determined to crackdown on unacceptable behaviour in the online ticketing market, whilst ensuring there are no unintentional consequences for the operations of the events sector. The Digital Economy Act 2017 provides the power to create a specific offence, where tickets are purchased electronically, of purchasing more tickets than the maximum permitted, to address concerns over large scale automated ticket reselling. We intend to enact this power via secondary legislation later this year, and will be monitoring its effectiveness once enacted. This measure is in addition to existing measures in the Consumer Rights Act 2015 relating to the information about tickets offered for sale on the secondary market, along with the additional requirement also contained in the Digital Economy Act for ticket sellers to provide a unique ticket number when re-selling a ticket, where one has originally been given. We recognise that Government can’t act alone in addressing this issue, and that the ticketing industry, regulatory bodies, and online platforms need to take actions themselves. We welcome the action taken earlier this month by the Advertising Standards Authority against four of the main operators in the secondary ticketing sector banning the misleading presentation of pricing information on their websites, which we hope will help improve transparency in the market and help consumers find legitimate official ticketing sites. The measures set out above, together with the ongoing enforcement work of the National Trading Standards and the Competition and Markets Authority, and industry’s own initiatives should go a long way to reducing people’s frustrations at the way the ticketing market works.

Heritage Lottery Fund

Darren Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what proportion of Heritage Lottery Fund funding has been allocated to (a) London and (b) each region in each of the last five years.

Michael Ellis: The proportion of total Heritage Lottery Fund funding given to each of the regions and nations over the last five years can be seen in the table below, broken down by financial year.Region/Nation2012-132013-142014-152015-162016-17East Midlands5%6%7%12%4%East of England7%6%5%8%11%London18%21%15%17%14%North East6%8%7%5%8%North West9%9%10%10%6%Northern Ireland2%6%1%4%3%Scotland13%11%9%13%6%South East16%9%15%7%15%South West7%11%14%8%8%Wales3%4%5%4%7%West Midlands10%5%6%7%8%Yorkshire and The Humber5%5%4%5%9%TOTAL100%100%100%100%100%

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Unpaid Work

Stewart Malcolm McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the level of use of unpaid trial shifts at the outset of employment.

Stewart Malcolm McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that job applicants are paid at least the minimum wage for work trials.

Andrew Griffiths: National Minimum Wage legislation provides that, if an individual is a “worker” for minimum wage purposes, he or she must be paid at least the national minimum or living wage. Short unpaid trials are permissible if they are part of a genuine recruitment exercise. HM Revenue and Customs take action against employers attempting to exploit workers by not complying with minimum wage legislation. They respond to all complaints and assess the facts of each case. Where they come to the view that unpaid work trials are in fact “work” under National Minimum Wage legislation, they will require the employer to pay any arrears to the worker and to pay a fine of up to 200% of the arrears. The Government’s policy is that it is unacceptable to exploit workers through excessively long unpaid work trials. We are therefore preparing guidance that will bring clarity on the responsibility of employers to pay the National Minimum Wage. We will work with key business and worker stakeholders in developing that guidance.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: SCL Group

Deidre Brock: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether (a) his Department and (b) any of his Department's agencies entered into contracts with Strategic Communication Laboratories in each year since 2010.

Jake Berry: The Department and its Arms Length Bodies’ records show no contracts were held with these suppliers for these periods.

Housing: Construction

Judith Cummins: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to ensure greater protection for consumers when (a) structural and (b) other problems occur with new build homes.

Judith Cummins: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to ensure the adequacy of redress arrangements for consumers when (a) structural and (b) other problems occur with new build homes.

Mrs Heather Wheeler: The Government is committed to fixing our broken housing market, to ensure we have a housing market that works for everyone. We expect housing developers to deliver good quality housing, on time, and to treat house buyers fairly.Where something goes wrong, house builders and warranty providers should fulfil their obligations to put things right, however coverage of the current landscape differs with levels of consumer protection. Where applicable, the industry-led Codes offer protection for the pre and post sales process and consumers can raise an independent dispute where breaches of the code are evident.Where there are structural concerns, consumers can raise a dispute through their warranty provider. However we know the current system remains fragmented and does not always provide full coverage. We know more needs to be done, which is why, in February, we published the consultation “Strengthening consumer redress in the housing market”. This follows the Secretary of State’s commitment from last November to explore options for improving redress in the housing market.

Housing: Ombudsman

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of establishing a new homes ombudsman; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs Heather Wheeler: The Government knows more needs to be done to ensure consumers of new build homes have a quick, easy and effective route to redress. Which is why, in February, we published the consultation “Strengthening consumer redress in the housing market”. This follows the Secretary of State’s commitment from last November to explore options for improving redress in the housing market.The consultation considers whether the answer might be a single housing ombudsman service, a single transparent and accountable body with the remit that covers the housing sector. Once results of this consultation have been analysed, we will then publish and work towards to the next stage.

Land Remediation Fund

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how much funding from the land remediation fund has been allocated to projects in each year since it was established, and if he will publish a list of projects in receipt of that funding.

Dominic Raab: The Land Release Fund was established in 2017 and will be allocating a total of £44,422,211 to projects from financial years 2017/18 to 2019/20. A complete list of projects and their funding can be found at the following address: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/45-million-funding-boost-to-support-councils-unlock-land-for-thousands-of-homes

Local Government Finance: Coventry

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how much funding his Department allocated to Coventry in each year since May 2010.

Rishi Sunak: Spending Power is a measure of resources available to a local authority to fund its services. It includes Settlement Funding Assessment (business rates baseline funding level plus Revenue Support Grant), Council Tax and other central government grants.Prior to 2013-14, Formula Grant was non-ring fenced money for local government services. It was funded by central government grant and redistributed business rates. Post 2013-14, Settlement Funding Assessment became the way central government provided local authorities with non-ring fenced funding for local government services.Details of Coventry Spending Power and the contribution from formula grant or the Settlement Funding Assessment are found at the links below:http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20090506010530tf_/http://www.local.communities.gov.uk/finance/0809/grant.htmhttp://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20090506010526/http://www.local.communities.gov.uk/finance/0910/grant.htmhttp://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20140505110048/http://www.local.communities.gov.uk/finance/1011/grant.htmhttp://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20140505110052/http://www.local.communities.gov.uk/finance/1112/grant.htmhttp://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20140505110056/http://www.local.communities.gov.uk/finance/1213/grant.htmhttp://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20140505104701/http://www.local.communities.gov.uk/finance/1314/settle.htmhttps://www.gov.uk/government/collections/final-local-government-finance-settlement-england-2014-to-2015https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/change-in-spending-power-final-local-government-finance-settlement-2015-to-2016https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/final-local-government-finance-settlement-england-2016-to-2017https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/final-local-government-finance-settlement-england-2017-to-2018https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/final-local-government-finance-settlement-england-2018-to-2019Since 2010 there have been changes to the finance and function of local government, therefore spending power, Formula Grant and Settlement Funding Assessment are not directly comparable over this period.

Right to Buy Scheme

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 26 March 2018 to Question 133275 on Right to Buy Scheme, after what period such information for a given year is (a) no longer subject to periodic review and reconciliation exercises and (b) available for publication.

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 26 March 2018 to Question 133275 on Right to Buy Scheme, what estimate he has made of the length of time to expire before information is considered to be out of date.

Dominic Raab: As local authorities regularly review their data under the scrutiny of their external auditors, it is not possible to fix a deadline after which we can be confident that no figures will change.

Ministry of Defence

Yemen: Peacekeeping Operations

Lloyd Russell-Moyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether British military personnel been involved in operations in Yemen since March 2015.

Mark Lancaster: No. British military personnel have not been involved in operations in Yemen since March 2015.

Bahrain: Military Bases

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of the reopening of the UK's naval base in Bahrain on the UK's (a) military capabilities (b) influence in the Gulf region and (c) ability to respond to human rights concerns in that country.

Mark Lancaster: The opening of the Naval Support Facility at Mina Salman Port in Bahrain will both enhance the Royal Navy's ability to operate effectively in the Gulf and further demonstrate the Government's enduring commitment to regional security. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the British Embassy in Bahrain continue to monitor events there closely and continue to have open and frank dialogue with the Government of Bahrain. Where we have concerns, we raise them at an appropriately senior level and will continue to do so.

Middle East: Defence Equipment

Lloyd Russell-Moyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the level of use of UK supplied military hardware by Saudi forces in Yemen since March 2015.

Mark Lancaster: The level of use of this hardware is a matter for Saudi Arabia to comment on.

Galileo System

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on what date he received correspondence from the European Commission on the UK's future relationship with the Galileo satellite project.

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on the UK's future relationship with the Galileo satellite project.

Guto Bebb: On 24 January 2018 the UK Permanent Representative to the EU, Sir Tim Barrow, received notice that the UK would no longer be allowed access to information about the future design of the Galileo satellite navigation programme because this could compromise the integrity of the system following the withdrawal of the UK from the EU.Since receiving this letter, the Secretary of State for Defence has raised the issue with his EU counterparts on several occasions, including at February's meeting of NATO Defence Ministers, and in subsequent bilateral contacts. He emphasised that we have a world-leading space sector that has contributed a significant amount of specialist expertise, time and money to the Galileo programme, and that we have a shared interest in continuing a close partnership on Galileo. He made clear that the UK would seek to overturn this decision and expressed his belief that the UK's exclusion would not be in the interests of the Galileo programme or our EU partners. We are unambiguously committed to European security and we hope that an ambitious partnership on security matters will be a core component of our future relationship with the European Union.

Military Bases: Cyprus

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department has taken since 1 January 2018 to prevent the (a) trapping and (b) killing of song birds on UK Sovereign Base Area in Cyrpus; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Lancaster: Since 1 January 2018, the Sovereign Base Area Administration has continued its enhanced efforts to prevent the trapping and killing of migratory birds in the Sovereign Base Areas of Cyprus. This includes, specifically, the removal of 29.5 km of piping, laid by bird trappers to illegally irrigate invasive acacia trees used to attract birds. Eight people were convicted in the Sovereign Base Areas courts for bird trapping-related offences, receiving fines of between €300 and €2,500. One person received a suspended custodial sentence of two months. The programme of seizing bird trapping equipment has continued, including the destruction of vast quantities of trapping-related paraphernalia on 23 March 2018.A report published in March 2018 by BirdLife Cyprus and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds highlighted significant decreases in trapping activity in the Bases during the 2017 autumn migration, and a reduction of 72% in the numbers of birds killed. This is hugely encouraging for the Sovereign Base Areas Administration, and it remains committed to continuing measures to proactively counter this illegal activity.

Royal Irish Regiment

Gavin Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many part-time UDR personnel were injured on duty; how much (a) compensation and (b) financial benefit was paid to each member; and what the criteria was for deciding on the level of that compensation or financial benefit.

Mark Lancaster: It is not possible to say how much compensation or financial benefit was paid to each part-time member of the Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR) who were injured on duty as the information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Navy: Joint Exercises

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which ships he plans to assign to the the Royal Navy's Joint Expeditionary Force (Maritime).

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many personnel from which units are currently assigned to duties supporting the Royal Navy's Joint Expeditionary Force (Maritime).

Mark Lancaster: The Joint Expeditionary Force (Maritime) (JEF(M)) is the Royal Navy's expeditionary task force maintained at high readiness and available at short notice to respond to unexpected global events.We do not comment on matters relating to the force structure or future planning assumptions of the JEF(M) as this would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.

Scotland Office

Scotland Office: Official Hospitality

Deidre Brock: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to the Answer of 9 January 2018 to Question 121040, on Scotland Office: Official Hospitality, on which dates each of those events occurred.

David Mundell: Please see below for a full list of dates for the events as listed in the response to PQ 121040. Event (2016-2017)2015/20162016/2017Armed Forces Reception25 June20 JuneAthletes ReceptionN/A27 JuneBeating the Retreat DinnerN/A9 JuneBeating the Retreat ReceptionN/A8 JuneBurns Supper25 January25 JanuaryBusiness Roundtable MeetingsVariousVariousCivil Service Live29 September3 MayDover House Lecture EventVarious1 MarchEdinburgh International Film Festival ReceptionN/A10 FebruaryEdinburgh Festivals Reception27 August11 AugustJoint Management Board MeetingVarious8 SeptemberLGBT History Month ReceptionN/A23 FebruaryModerator (Church of Scotland) Lunch Event25 NovemberN/ASt Andrews Day Taste of Scotland Event30 November30 NovemberPoints of Light Award ReceptionN/A6 JuneRoyal Highland Show18 June23-26 JuneTrooping the Colour Reception13 June11 JuneWestern Isles Business Stakeholder Dinner30 JulyN/A

Scotland Office: Official Hospitality

Deidre Brock: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to the Answer of 9 January 2018 to Question 121040, on Scotland Office: Official Hospitality, at which of those events was alcohol provided as part of the hospitality package.

David Mundell: Please see the list below which advises which events included a service of alcohol as part of the hospitality package. Event (2016-2017)2015/ 2016Alcohol Included2016/ 2017Alcohol IncludedArmed Forces Reception25 JuneYes20 JuneYesAthletes ReceptionN/AN/A27 JuneYesBeating the Retreat DinnerN/AN/A9 JuneYesBeating the Retreat ReceptionN/AN/A8 JuneYesBurns Supper25 JanuaryYes25 JanuaryYesBusiness Roundtable MeetingsVariousNoVariousNoCivil Service Live29 SeptemberNo3 MayNoDover House Lecture EventVariousYes1 MarchYesEdinburgh International Film Festival ReceptionN/AN/A10 FebruaryYesEdinburgh Festivals Reception27 AugustYes11 AugustYesJoint Management Board MeetingVariousNo8 SeptemberNoLGBT History Month ReceptionN/AN/A23 FebruaryYesModerator (Church of Scotland) Lunch Event25 NovemberYesN/AN/ASt Andrews Day Taste of Scotland Event30 NovemberNo30 NovemberNoPoints of Light Award ReceptionN/AN/A6 JuneYesRoyal Highland Show18 JuneYes23-26 JuneYesTrooping the Colour Reception13 JuneYes11 JuneYesWestern Isles Business Stakeholder Dinner30 JulyNoN/AN/A

Scotland Office: Official Hospitality

Deidre Brock: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to the Answer of 9 January 2018 to Question 121040, on Scotland Office: Official Hospitality, who attended each of the events as guests of his Department.

David Mundell: The events listed in response to PQ 121040 were attended by cross-party MPs, MSPs, Peers, Foreign Ambassadors, stakeholders from various sectors across Scotland and the UK including business organisations; agriculture; fisheries; financial services; charities; retail; energy; tourism and creative industries and civil servants.

Scotland Office: Buildings

Deidre Brock: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many staff from other Departments operate our of his Department's premises in Scotland; and what proportion of officials working in those premises that represents.

David Mundell: A total of 18 staff from other Departments formally operate out of my Department’s premises in Scotland, representing 28% of officials working in those premises.

Scotland Office: Buildings

Deidre Brock: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many Government Departments rent space in Scotland Office premises in Edinburgh.

David Mundell: Four Government Departments rent space in Scotland Office premises in Edinburgh.

Department for International Trade

Small Businesses: North East

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 12 March 2018 to Question 131181 on small businesses: overseas trade, when the Export Strategy review will be completed; and whether that review will consider how the Government can best support businesses in the North East after the UK leaves the EU.

Graham Stuart: Holding answer received on 27 March 2018



The Export Strategy will be published in the coming months and will set out measures to support businesses throughout the UK both before and after the UK leaves the EU. The terms of reference were published on 20 March, alongside a final call for business input into the strategy, to supplement evidence already gathered through a series of engagement events, including roundtables, which have taken place across the country.We have already met representatives from the North East England Chamber of Commerce and will hold a roundtable event in the North East next month with local businesses which will identify any specific issues faced by them.The strategy will be a strategy for the whole of the UK, and as set out in the terms of reference, covers working with other providers, including those relevant to the North East.

Board of Trade

Luke Graham: What the work programme of the Board of Trade is.

Dr Liam Fox: Not only has the Board of Trade met for the first time in 150 years, delivered its first overseas mission, and been out across the country meeting businesses, but later today, I will be travelling to Preston for the second meeting of the Board of Trade where I will be announcing a new National Trade Academy programme and the winners of the inaugural Board of Trade Awards - the BOFTAS.

Import Duties: USA

Jeff Smith: What assessment he has made of the effect of the decision by the US Administration to impose tariffs on steel on securing an early trade deal with the US.

Dr Liam Fox: The decision by the US to impose tariffs under Section 232 relates to national security concerns, and therefore does not impact on any potential free trade agreement with the United States.I had constructive discussions with Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, and US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer when I was in the United States earlier this month on liberalising the UK-US trading relationship.

Department for Transport

Transport: East Midlands

Ben Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what funding his Department has provided to support transport projects in (a) the East Midlands and (b) Nottinghamshire in the last three years.

Jesse Norman: In the East Midlands, over £3.2 billion of public money has been spent on transport in the last three years, improving connectivity, shortening journey times, reducing congestion, and transporting people, ideas and goods. Figures are not available at the level of individual counties. However, in Nottinghamshire, recent Government investment includes £371m towards extensions to the Nottingham tram system, £8.5m towards the Hucknall Town Centre Improvement Scheme, and £5m towards maintenance on the A38 and A617 Mansfield Regeneration Route.

Electric Vehicles

James Frith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what incentives the Government plans to provide for the purchase of electric cars; and what step his Department plans to take to stimulate the used electric car market.

Jesse Norman: The Government is investing nearly £1.5bn‎ between April 2015 and March 2021 in one of the most comprehensive global programmes of support for electric vehicles, with grants available for new plug in cars, vans, lorries, buses, taxis and motorcycles, and schemes to support charging point infrastructure at homes and workplaces and on residential streets. The Government’s forthcoming zero emission road transport strategy, which will be published after the local elections, will set out its plans to support the UK transition to zero emission vehicles. There is a developing market for second hand electric vehicles. Used electric vehicle motorists are able to take advantage of the favourable tax regime the Government has put in place and local initiatives such as free parking, as well as the Government’s grant schemes to assist with the cost of installing chargepoints.

Parking: Pedestrian Areas

James Frith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he plans to follow up the commitment in the Accessibility Action Plan 2017 and begin the survey engaging with stakeholders on the issue of Traffic Regulation Orders specific to pavement parking.

Ms Nusrat Ghani: This survey has not taken place. The Department for Transport is instead undertaking a broader piece of work to gather evidence on the issue of pavement parking, including how it is addressed in current regulation. We expect to be able to draw conclusions later this year.

Housing: Construction

Judith Cummins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many new build developments have included roads which have not been adopted by local authorities due to not meeting minimum standards in each of the last five years.

Jesse Norman: The Department does not hold this information as we do not collect data about un-adopted roads. A local highway authority may adopt a road if it has been built to the required standard. It will then become maintainable at the public’s expense. An authority will not, however, adopt a road that does not meet the required standard. Some developers do not seek adoption, and some residents will prefer to keep the road as private.

Maritime and Coastguard Agency

Karl Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of the effect of changes to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s national network of marine offices on (a) vessel surveyor support and (b) seafarer examination and certification services.

Ms Nusrat Ghani: The Survey and Inspection transformation programme is a four-year change programme currently less than halfway through implementation. The changes to the Marine Office network estate laydown remain on schedule to complete in March 2019 and the new North East Examination Centre has already opened in South Shields. An assessment of the impact of the changes will be undertaken at an appropriate time after implementation has completed.

Department for Transport: Cambridge Analytica

Deidre Brock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether (a) his Department and (b) any of its agencies has entered into contracts with Cambridge Analytica since 2012.

Ms Nusrat Ghani: The central Department and its four executive agencies – Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, Maritime and Coastguard Agency and Vehicle Certification Agency – have no record of entering into any contracts with Cambridge Analytica, or its parent company, since 2012.

Aviation

Dr Alan Whitehead: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he plans to consult on a new aviation strategy.

Jesse Norman: The Department for Transport undertook a call for evidence on the Aviation Strategy, which closed 13 October 2017. It remains the Department’s plan to consult on a new Aviation Strategy during the course of 2018. We will be publishing a Next Steps document shortly that will provide a more detailed timetable.

Cross Country Rail Franchise: Cheltenham

Alex Chalk: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when his Department plans to launch the public consultation on the future of Arriva Cross Country's franchise for services to and from Cheltenham.

Joseph Johnson: We plan on holding the public consultation for this franchise later this year.

Aviation

Dr Alan Whitehead: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with the aviation sector on the UK Aviation Strategy due for publication by the end of 2018.

Jesse Norman: The Secretary of State for Transport has had numerous discussions with representatives of the aviation sector regarding the Aviation Strategy, as have the Aviation Minister and officials in the Department for Transport.

Department for Transport:  SCL Group

Deidre Brock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether (a) his Department and (b) any of his Department's agencies entered into contracts with Strategic Communication Laboratories in each year since 2010.

Ms Nusrat Ghani: The central Department and its four executive agencies – Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, Maritime and Coastguard Agency and Vehicle Certification Agency – have no record of entering into any contracts with Strategic Communication Laboratories or its subsidiary in each year since 2010.

Motor Vehicles: Registration

Andrew Lewer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department plans to take to use updated technology to reduce the evasion of tolls and penalty charge notices by foreign registered commercial vehicles; and whether he has plans to refuse entry to the UK to those who have evaded such charges.

Jesse Norman: In regards to the Dartford Crossing Highways England confirm that the vast majority of foreign drivers pay the charges and are not issued with fines. Highways England also advise that Penalty Charge Notices issued overseas are issued with a warning letter to those using the Dartford Crossing for the first time. This offers a further opportunity to pay the original charge without accruing a fine. This avoids penalising road users that are unaware of the payment arrangements, and raises awareness so that advanced payments can be made in the future. Highways England uses a private collection agency called EPC plc to chase those foreign drivers who do not pay tolls and penalty charges. Regarding the HGV Levy, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) note that enforcement of non-GB HGVs is a major priority for them. In 2016-17, it checked just over 88,000 non-GB HGVs at the roadside, which accounts for more than 62% of all HGV vehicles stopped for enforcement checks. From those checks, DVSA issued just under 17,000 penalty notices. These covered offences including the non-payment of the HGV Levy, mechanical offences and drivers hours. In the last year, a number of vehicles were directed out of the country and many were immobilised until the problems identified had been rectified. There are no plans to change the rules on entry for this issue.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether a decision has been made on the location of the planned eastern leg rolling stock depot for High Speed 2.

Ms Nusrat Ghani: A decision on the location of the Eastern Leg Rolling Stock Depot (ELRSD) will be taken shortly.

East Midlands Rail Franchise

Ben Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has made an assessment of the adequacy of the public consultation on the future of East Midlands rail franchise.

Joseph Johnson: The consultation into the next East Midlands rail franchise ran from 20 July and 11 October 2017 and received over 2,300 responses. In due course the Secretary of State will publish a Stakeholder Briefing Document alongside the ITT for the competition. This will explain how the Department has considered the comments and suggestions made, and explored how these opportunities could be incorporated into the East Midlands franchise specification.

Cycling: Pedestrian Areas

Edward Argar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to tackle cyclists cycling on pavements.

Jesse Norman: Cycling on the pavement (“footway”) is an offence under Section 72 of the Highways Act 1835. Enforcement is a matter for the Police who are able to issue a Fixed Penalty Notice of £50 or can choose to prosecute offenders with a maximum fine of £500. Like all road users, cyclists have a duty to behave in a safe and responsible manner, and this is reflected in the Highway Code's rules for cyclists. On 9 March the Department published a Call for Evidence into how to improve road safety for pedestrians and cyclists, in order to support the Government ambition to make cycling and walking a natural choice for shorter journeys. This consultation is open until 1 June and is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/cycling-and-walking-investment-strategy-cwis-safety-review

Driving: Licensing

Sir Roger Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the validity of the UK driving licence in the EU after the UK has left the EU.

Jesse Norman: Under existing international treaties UK motorists will still be able to drive in EU member states with a UK driving licence after we leave the EU. Some countries may require an additional document, but the Government is seeking an agreement to avoid this. Such an agreement is in the interests of both sides.

Railway Signals

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the effect of digital signalling systems on levels of train capacity on the rail network.

Joseph Johnson: Our railway carries twice as many passengers as it did just two decades ago and demand is still set to rise in the years ahead. Digital Railway is part of the industry’s plan to modernise the UK railways through targeted use of digital technologies to deliver improvements in performance and capacity. For example, digital technologies are being deployed – along with other upgrades – as part of the Thameslink Programme, to enable a metro-style service of 24 Thameslink trains per hour through the core section in central London. However, there can be no ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to the deployment of the Digital Railway and we are continuing to explore with Network Rail where there is the strongest need for digital interventions across the rail network and where digital schemes can deliver most passenger benefits and offer best value for money.

Railway Signals

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the locations are for his Department's piloting of digital signalling systems on the rail network.

Joseph Johnson: The £450m for Digital Railway announced in the 2016 Autumn Statement will be used to deliver benefits to passengers and also to prepare the UK rail industry to deliver more digital railway schemes in the future. Nearly £85million is being spent on fitting and testing the on-board ETCS equipment for the first time in several classes of trains, a vital enabler for the Digital Railway Programme, whilst development funding has been allocated for potential digital schemes between Manchester and York and also on the South East Route and Moorgate Branch to help deliver the kind of improvements to train journeys that passengers expect and deserve. These schemes build on the progress already being made by other Digital Railway schemes at Romford and Cardiff, and as part of Thameslink and Crossrail. Passengers on the Thameslink route have started to see some of this technology with Automatic Train Operation (ATO) being introduced on services through the Thameslink ‘core’ between St Pancras International and Blackfriars stations.

Bus Services

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the average age is of public service buses in use in England.

Ms Nusrat Ghani: As at 31 March 2017, the average age of the buses used as Public Service Vehicles by local bus operators in England was 7.6 years.

Buses: Accidents

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many (a) pedestrians and (b) cyclists were (i) injured and (ii) killed in accidents with buses in the last year for which information is available.

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many (a) pedestrians and (b) cyclists were (i) injured or (ii) killed in accidents with buses in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Jesse Norman: The latest and most recent data available is from 2016. The number of casualties resulting in reported personal injury road accidents involving buses/coaches is given in the table below: The number of casualties resulting in reported personal injury accident involving buses/coaches, GB: 2016 Cyclists1Pedestrians2 KilledSeriousSlightTotalKilledSeriousSlightTotal 201633921926126193633852   Source: STATS19 data 1 Accidents involving two vehicles (a bus/coach and pedal cycle)2 Accidents involving one bus/coach and 1 or more pedestrians.  Information is published in Reported Road Casualties Great Britain: annual report 2016 table RAS40004

Buses: Passengers

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the number of passengers per public bus journey in England in each of the last three years.

Ms Nusrat Ghani: The table below gives the average bus occupancy on local bus services in England from 20014/15 to 2016/17. Average bus occupancy1 on local bus services: England, 2014/15 to 2016/17YearAverage bus occupancy2014/1512.22015/1611.92016/1711.91 Calculated as passenger miles divided by vehicle miles.

Roads: York

Julian Sturdy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how funding has been allocated by his Department for repairing potholes in York.

Jesse Norman: The Department for Transport has provided £0.598 million since 2016 to the City of York Council to help repair potholes and to stop them forming, as well as to improve the resilience of the roads for which they are responsible. This funding is enough to help repair over 11, 900 potholes. The funding is allocated to local highway authorities based on road lengths for which each authority is responsible. This funding is on top of £13 million we will be providing to York between 2015/16 and 2020/21 for the purpose of local highways maintenance. The Department for Transport is also working in partnership with City of York Council on two innovative trials which deploys innovative intelligent software to help identify road surface problems before they become potholes.

Train Operating Companies: Compensation

Andy McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much compensation Network Rail has paid to train operating companies in (a) 2014, (b) 2015, (c) 2016 and (d) 2017; and if he will publish that same information by train operating company.

Joseph Johnson: I refer the honourable Member to my previous replies on 6 March 2018 (UIN 130589) and 12 March 2018 (UIN 131201).

Trains: Diesel Fuel

Andy McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what meetings his Department held with representatives of the rail industry prior to the announcement that diesel traction would be withdrawn from the rail network in 2040.

Joseph Johnson: Officials from the Department meet regularly with rail industry representatives including rolling stock manufacturers and owners to discuss a wide range of issues with regard to the rolling stock market.

Railways: Electrification

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has plans to introduce electric-powered trains in the UK.

Joseph Johnson: There are new electric trains being introduced for Thameslink, TfL’s Elizabeth Line, TransPennine Express, Northern, South Western Railway, West Midlands Trains and c2c.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Occupied Territories

Lloyd Russell-Moyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether any UK-supplied military-related equipment has been used in Israeli police or military operations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories in the last three years.

Alistair Burt: The UK has exported a number of items to Israel over the last three years, including body armour, equipment to deal with military improvised explosive devices, and components for targeting equipment, military communications, tanks and military support aircraft and vehicles. We do not collect data on the use of equipment after sale. UK arms exports are subject to export controls. All decisions to approve export licences to Israel are considered on a case-by-case basis against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria (Consolidated Criteria). Decisions are based on the most up-to-date information and analysis available, including reports from our overseas network and military contacts. The Consolidated Criteria provide a thorough risk assessment framework and require us to consider the impact of providing equipment and its capabilities. We do not issue export licences where, for example, we assess there is a clear risk that the goods might be used for internal repression. We keep our approach to all countries under continual review.

Balkans: LGBT People

Nick Herbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will include LGBT rights on the agenda of the forthcoming Western Balkans summit in London.

Sir Alan Duncan: The Government is working closely with our European partners and with civil society on a Summit agenda for London that will help foster regional security, economic and political cooperation. The Summit Team have met LGBT activists from the region (organised by Stonewall) as part of our engagement with civil society on the Summit.

British Overseas Territories: Companies

Mr David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when the review of beneficial ownership information sharing arrangements with the Overseas Territories will be complete; and whether he plans to publish it.

Sir Alan Duncan: The review of the implementation of the arrangements with the Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies is almost completed and will be published in the near future.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office: SCL Group

Stephen Gethins: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether his Department or its agencies has entered into contracts with SCL group.

Sir Alan Duncan: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and its agencies have not entered into any contracts with SCL group since 2009. The FCO held one contract with SCL group in 2008-2009.​

Foreign and Commonwealth Office: SCL Group

Deidre Brock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether (a) his Department and (b) any of his Department's agencies entered into contracts with Strategic Communication Laboratories in each year since 2010.

Sir Alan Duncan: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office and its agencies have not entered into any contracts with Strategic Communication Laboratories since 2010.​

Hong Kong: Politics and Government

Geraint Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the compatibility with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights of proposed National Security Legislation in Hong Kong; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Field: Currently there is no proposed national security legislation in Hong Kong. The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region has not set a timeline for the introduction of any legislation that would be required to enact Article 23, nor published any draft bills. We have been consistently clear in our position that, if the Hong Kong Government should seek to introduce legislation in this area, it will be important that there is dialogue between all parties; and that any legislation does not undermine the basic rights and freedoms of the people of Hong Kong.​

Syria: Armed Conflict

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the barriers to the implementation of UN Security Council resolution 2401 since the adoption of that resolution on 5 March 2018.

Alistair Burt: UN Security Council Resolution 2401 has still not been implemented due largely to the regime and Russia’s failure to abide by its conditions. Pro-regime forces have continued to bomb eastern Ghouta. The UN estimate that around 1,700 people have been killed there since the resolution was passed on 24 February and thousands more have been injured. The UN has reported that around 95,000 people have left eastern Ghouta. Those remaining urgently require humanitarian assistance but the UN has reported that they are still waiting for the regime to sign facilitation letters to allow them to deliver aid. Pro-regime forces have also continued to bomb Idlib and southern Syria, in and around Dar’a city, causing numerous casualties.The UK continues to exert diplomatic pressure, including through the UN Security Council, for full implementation of UNSCR 2401. On 7 March, the Security Council discussed the situation at the UK and France’s request. On 12 March, the UK organised an informal briefing on the situation for the Security Council by Syrian opposition and humanitarian actors. The Prime Minister has spoken to President Trump, Chancellor Merkel and President Macron to discuss the appalling situation in eastern Ghouta.

Yemen: Military Intervention

Mr Paul Sweeney: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he had with the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia during his visit to the UK  on the protection of civilians in Yemen from the Saudi-led bombing campaign in that country.

Alistair Burt: We regularly raise the importance of compliance with International Humanitarian Law with Saudi Arabia. Both the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary raised the issue with the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia during his visit in March.

Saudi Arabia: Human Rights

Mr Paul Sweeney: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he had with the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia during his visit to the UK on the human rights situation in that country.

Alistair Burt: ​The UK regularly raises human rights with the Saudi Arabian authorities. During the Crown Prince's visit to the UK, both the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary raised a broad range of issues with senior Saudi interlocutors including women's rights, universal human rights and the UK's particular concerns in the case of Raif Badawi.

Religious Freedom

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many posts there are in his Department relating to policy on freedom of religion or belief.

Mark Field: ​Many departments within the FCO promote freedom of religion and belief as part of their work. The same is true of staff at Embassies and High Commissions overseas. It is therefore not possible to give an exact figure for the number of staff working on this issue.

1 Carlton Gardens

Tommy Sheppard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the annual running cost of 1 Carlton Gardens was for each year between 2006-07 and 2010-11.

Alistair Burt: Comparable figures for expenditure on running costs at 1 Carlton Gardens are only available from 2009/10 due to changes in financial recording processes.Running costs include rent, maintenance, minor improvement and repair costs, cleaning, security, facilities management charges and utilities.Running costs for the 2 available financial years are:2009/10: £590,8302010/11: £716,121During 2010/11 Financial Year the Foreign Secretary moved in to the Official Residence at 1 Carlton Gardens. As a result there was an increase in Security costs. The balance of the increase in costs is due to works that were required as a result of the Quadrennial Inspections of listed buildings in 2009, and in accordance with lease obligations. We are required under the terms of the lease for 1 Carlton Gardens to: “as often as necessary, well and substantially to repair, renew, uphold, clean and keep in repair the demised premises.” ​

Islamic State: Sexual Offences

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what support the UK is providing to victims of sexual violence by Daesh.

Harriett Baldwin: The UK took the lead in the passage of UNSCR 2379, which mandates the establishment of an investigative team to collect evidence of Daesh atrocities, including the horrific crimes of sexual violence. UK aid has enabled the UN Trust Fund to support the Free Yezidi Foundation, which is running a women’s and children’s centre which provides safety and support for women who have suffered at the hands of Daesh. We have also built the capacity of Iraqi Non-Government Organisations to tackle the stigma experienced by victims/survivors of sexual violence in conflictA member of the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative Team of Experts completed a scoping mission on documenting and investigating conflict-related sexual violence in Daesh–held territory.

Human Rights

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will adopt a strategic plan to (a) protect and (b) support human rights defenders throughout the world.

Mark Field: ​In 2017, officials from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) collaborated with representatives of civil society organisations to update the FCO's "Guidelines on Working with Human Rights Defenders". These Guidelines were issued to all Ambassadors and High Commissioners in December. They give guidance on how UK diplomats should become well acquainted with civil society representatives, including human rights defenders. Each Ambassador and High Commissioner is able to decide how to apply the Guidelines in the context of the country to which they are accredited. With this decentralised, flexible approach, diplomats overseas are able to make decisions based on local knowledge and conditions. The FCO believes that this is a better approach than a prescriptive, centrally-driven strategy.

Human Rights

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how much money was spent by the Government on (a) protecting and (b) supporting human rights defenders globally in each year since 2009-10.

Mark Field: ​The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) protects and supports human rights defenders in a variety of ways, including by funding projects through the Magna Carta Fund for Human Rights and Democracy (MCF) and the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF). Figures for MCF-funded projects specifically focussing on human rights defenders are only available from 2016. In financial year 2016/17, the FCO spent an estimated £609,185 from MCF on projects to protect and/or support human rights defenders. The figure for financial year 2017/18 is likely to be approximately £449,430. These figures do not take into account work funded from the CSSF or projects which supported human rights defenders that fall into different thematic areas such as freedom of expression or freedom of religion or belief. An accurate and comprehensive estimate of the full value of FCO's work to protect and support human rights defenders would need to take into account the full economic cost of non-project activities such as communications, attendance at trials, and diplomatic engagement with overseas governments and state institutions. Data to allow such an estimate to be reached is not held centrally

Human Rights

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support (a) women and (b) other human rights defenders.

Mark Field: ​In December 2017, the Foreign Secretary issued the diplomatic network with an updated version of the United Kingdom Guidelines on Working with Human Rights Defenders. The Guidelines instruct the United Kingdom's diplomatic network to support human rights defenders. This includes taking into account groups who may face additional risks such as those defending the rights of women. The UK co-sponsored the Resolution on Human Rights Defenders at the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in November, 2017. This year marks the 20th anniversary year of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders. We will work with fellow co-signatories to uphold the principles of the Declaration.

Department for International Development

Syria: International Assistance

Mr David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent discussions her Department has had with organisations that work directly on the ground in Syria to support civilians in Eastern Ghouta.

Alistair Burt: We regularly discuss the situation in Eastern Ghouta with the UN and NGOs who are delivering assistance in Syria. I recently met with several civil society groups from Eastern Ghouta whilst on my visit to Turkey. Where and when access allows, DFID’s humanitarian partners are providing support including food, health, and water and sanitation.

Syria: Overseas Aid

Mr David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department is taking to support people fleeing Eastern Ghoutta; and will she make a statement.

Alistair Burt: DFID funded partners are supporting people displaced from Eastern Ghouta in both Rural Damascus and in Idlib, including the provision of food, shelter and basic hygiene products. We continue to advocate for the protection of civilians and for a ceasefire to be implemented, as demanded by the UN Security Council.

Saudi Arabia: Official Visits

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether any element of the visit of Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the UK was funded by her Department.

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether any element of the recent visit by Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the UK was funded by Official Development Assistance.

Alistair Burt: No element of the Crown Prince’s visit to the UK was funded by the UK’s Official Development Assistance, and DFID did not fund any of the visit.During the visit, the two countries agreed to continued close cooperation on humanitarian issues, and signed three separate agreements to strengthen our shared response to global humanitarian and development challenges.

Developing Countries: Internally Displaced People

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps she is taking to help ensure that (a) the United Nations Compact on Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration and (b) the United Nations Compact on Refugees provide support for internally displaced people overseas; and if she will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: Given the UN Compacts are focused specifically on refugees and migration, there may be limited scope to ensure the specific needs of internally displaced people are addressed within these particular frameworks. However, there should be common lessons to apply in terms of the importance of a longer term development response to displacement and we are considering other opportunities to raise the profile of the issue and galvanise international efforts in 2018. For example, the UK is supportive of the idea of a UN High Level Panel on internally displaced people to assess the effectiveness of the current response to internal displacement and galvanise further political and operational action. We are discussing this closely with other interested States and UN agencies.

Developing Countries: Prisons

David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much overseas development aid funding has been allocated to the construction of prisons in each country in receipt of such funding since 2010.

Harriett Baldwin: DFID does not collate figures on how much ODA funding has been specifically allocated to prison construction. However, we have supported the reform and rehabilitation of prisons in developing countries, such as £2.3 million in Somalia.

Syria: Bombings

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department is taking to support (a) children and (b) their families in Eastern Ghouta after the recent bombing there.

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of providing earmarked funding to support vulnerable children in Eastern Ghouta.

Alistair Burt: DFID’s funding in Syria is allocated flexibly in order to allow our humanitarian partners to respond to emerging spikes in need. Humanitarian access to Eastern Ghouta remains severely constrained by the Assad regime. Where and when access allows, DFID’s humanitarian partners are providing lifesaving support, such as health, nutrition and protection services, including to children and their families. We continue to advocate for the protection of civilians and for a ceasefire to be implemented, as demanded by the UN Security Council.

Department for Education

Academies: Special Educational Needs

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps are being taken to ensure that (a) academies and (b) free schools admit a reasonable proportion of children with disabilities and special needs; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: All state funded schools, including academies and free schools, have the same responsibilities with regard to children with special educational needs and disability (SEND). This includes admitting all children whose Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan names the school and using their best endeavors to make the provision required to meet the special educational needs of those pupils. The School Admissions Code also requires children and young people with SEND to be treated fairly and prohibits admission authorities refusing admission to a child who has SEND but does not have an EHC plan because they do not feel able to cater for those needs. They must also not refuse to admit a child on the grounds that they do not have an EHC plan. If the school named in the EHC plan refuses to admit a child, it can be directed to do so.

Schools: Vocational Guidance

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether Ofsted plans to refer to the Gatsby Foundation’s eight benchmarks for good careers advice when inspecting schools and colleges.

Anne Milton: This is a matter for Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector, Amanda Spielman. I have asked her to write to the Member for Scunthorpe and a copy of her reply will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Home Education: Public Consultation

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when the Government's consultation on the guidance on home education for parents and local authorities is planned to begin; how long that consultation is planned to last; and what the timetable is for the Government to respond to that consultation.

Anne Milton: We aim to start the consultation process within the next few weeks, once the necessary documentation has been prepared. The consultation period will be proportionate, as required by the consultation principles document published by the Cabinet Office. That document also sets out that a response to consultation will normally be made within 12 weeks; but in any event, it is planned that the final version of revised guidance will be issued as soon as responses received during the consultation period have been considered fully.

Nurses: Training

Mr Gary Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to support nursing students who were overpaid loan and maintenance grants by the Student Loans Company.

Mr Gary Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will make it his policy to write-off all the loan and maintenance grants overpayments made by the Student Loans Company to nursing students.

Mr Gary Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Education,  what support he plans to make available to nursing students affected by overpayments of loan and maintenance grants by the Students Loans Company to ensure they can complete their course.

Mr Sam Gyimah: Our priority is to support those affected by the maintenance loan and grant overpayments. None of the students affected should suffer hardship as a result of the error, and students affected should contact the Student Loans Company.

Free School Meals

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many children were (a) entitled to, and (b) applied for free school meals in each local authority area in each of the last seven years.

Nadhim Zahawi: The number of pupils eligible for and claiming free school meals is published in the annual ‘Schools, pupils and their characteristics’ statistical release is available at:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/schools-pupils-and-their-characteristics-january-2017. For 2017, the number and percentage of pupils eligible for and claiming free school meals by local authority can be found in Tables 8a to 8e, in the ‘Local authority and regional tables: SFR28/2017’ section of the annual ‘Schools, pupils and their characteristics: January 2017’ statistical release. Information for earlier years (from 2010 onwards) is available at:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-school-and-pupil-numbers.

Primary Education: Literacy

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of children starting primary school in (a) the West Midlands and (b) Coventry had literacy skills below the expected school-ready level in each year since 2010.

Nick Gibb: This information is in the public domain. The Department publishes statistics on attainment within the Early Years Foundation Stage Profile (EYFSP) for children at the end of reception year. The percentage of children achieving at least the expected level across all the learning goals in the Literacy area of learning, for years 2013 to 2017, is published within table 2b of the ‘Early years foundation stage profile results: 2016 to 2017’ statistical first release. https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/early-years-foundation-stage-profile-results-2016-to-2017.

Schools: Wales

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will hold discussions with his Welsh counterpart on the potential merits of allocating funding to improve sanitary facilities in schools.

Nadhim Zahawi: Officials at the Department for Education hold regular discussions with officials in the devolved administrations about the issue of sanitary protection provision in schools; the next discussion is due to take place in April 2018. Officials in the Welsh government have committed to update the Department for Education on all relevant initiatives and we will review evidence on the impact and affordability of their activity.Our current Sex and Relationships Education guidance encourages schools to make adequate and sensitive arrangements to help girls cope with menstruation. We support schools in addressing the needs of disadvantaged pupils through the provision of the Pupil Premium, equivalent to almost £2.5 billion of additional funding this year alone. Schools have discretion over how they use their funding and can make sanitary products available to pupils if they identify this as a barrier to attainment or attendance. Through the current round of Tampon Tax funding we will provide £1.5 million for the ‘Let’s Talk. Period.’ project, which will deliver products to disadvantaged young women and girls identified through local partners, including schools, across England.  Our recently published analysis shows no evidence that period poverty has a significant nation-wide impact on school attendance. We want to find out more about this issue, which is why we intend to place questions on these issues in the department’s 2018 surveys for pupils and senior school leaders.

Food: Education

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to improve the quality of food education in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools.

Nick Gibb: The national curriculum for design and technology, includes content on cooking and nutrition. The Department reformed the design and technology curriculum in 2014 and for the first time made it compulsory for maintained schools to teach cooking and nutrition at key stages 1 to 3. The new curriculum requires pupils to be taught about the principles of a healthy and varied diet, and how to cook a repertoire of dishes. It can be used as a benchmark by Free Schools and Academies. In September 2016, we also introduced a new GCSE in Food Preparation and Nutrition. It requires pupils to acquire a proper understanding of the scientific principles behind food and nutrition, and use a number of practical cooking techniques to prepare and cook food. The first exams in this new qualification will be in summer 2018.

Training

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent steps his Department has taken to improve (a) work-related training and (b) adult skills development.

Anne Milton: We have recently introduced reforms to improve the quality and quantity of apprenticeships. Our reforms have fundamentally changed what apprenticeships are, and the long-term opportunities they can provide. Employers have been central to the changes – designing apprenticeship standards to ensure that apprentices receive the training employers need in the workplace.T levels will also be introduced from 2020, which are a high quality alternative to academic education and will include a substantial work placement for all students. Employers are at the heart of these reforms, playing a vital role in the co-creation of programmes meaning that T levels will have real labour market value – recognised by employers and students as prestigious and meaningful qualifications.We have also launched two Career Learning pilots to test new approaches to tackling the barriers to career learning over the next two years. The first is a Flexible Learning Fund of up to £10 million to support projects which design and test flexible and accessible ways of delivering learning to working adults with low or intermediate skills. The second pilots will test the best ways to reach adults, including those in work, and incentivise them to undertake additional training. At the Autumn Budget, we announced that we are developing a new National Retraining Scheme - to drive adult learning and retraining. The Scheme will include a phased series of impactful interventions starting in 2018, the first of which will be an employer-driven programme focused on the construction industry. Advanced Learner Loans are already established and provide extensive coverage of regulated qualifications at Level 3 to Level 6, helping meet the up-front tuition fees for learners aged 19 and above - removing one of the main barriers to adult learning.

Children: Day Care

Tracy Brabin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 26 March 2018 to Question 133554, on children: day care, what estimate he has made of the number of 2-year-olds who will be eligible in 2023.

Nadhim Zahawi: Under the new annual net earned income threshold of £15,400, it is estimated that by 2023 around 7,000 more children will benefit from the two-year-old entitlement compared to the previous benefits system.

Department for Education: Contracts

Tracy Brabin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 26 March 2018 to Question 133561, what organisation or organisations received the contract related to a new SEND school workforce contract, the procurement for which began in December 2017.

Nadhim Zahawi: We are in the final stages of a procurement process to better equip the schools workforce to support pupils with all types of Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND). We expect to award the contract in April and will announce the contractor at that point.

Carillion

Angela Rayner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what information the Construction Industry Training Board has provided to his Department on the number of apprentices transferred from Carillion Training Services Limited who (a) have and (b) will have found new placements by 29 March 2018.

Anne Milton: The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) is proactively working with their established network of college partners to support all affected apprentices and other learners to complete their programmes. Additionally, CITB are utilising their existing employer contacts in the sector in order to find and secure alternative employers for the apprentices to complete their frameworks or standards. CITB has engaged directly with 1,264 of all affected learners to date. Some of those helped were not current Carillion Training Services (CTS) apprentices and included recent finishers looking for a new employer with which to progress to an advanced apprenticeship as well as learners from the CTS study programme looking to progress to an intermediate apprenticeship: CITB has secured new employment, with wages, for 621 of the 1,148 apprentices originally employed by Carillion and delivered by CTS. This figure was recently adjusted following an update in the available data.In addition, 103 apprentices have a pending job offer but do not have a confirmed start date.Five have returned to full time education.419 apprentices remain. Approximately 350 are still being paid by the liquidator and of those approximately 200 are actively working with CITB to find alternative employers.The remaining apprentices (approximately 200) have not responded to various attempts to contact them. CITB has recently launched a targeted employer campaign to secure employment placements for learners for whom a placement has not yet been found during the process, due to their geographical location / area of learning. This has resulted in an increasing number of employer vacancies, which CITB are actively pursuing in order to place more apprentices.

Church Commissioners

Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative

Tim Farron: To ask the Honourable Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, with reference to news release Church of England’s National Investing Bodies launch policy on investing in Extractive Industries, published by the Church of England in November 2017, what steps the Church Commissioners have taken to promote ethical investment policies in respect of the extractive industries to other faiths.

Dame Caroline Spelman: The Extractive Industries Policy of the National Investing Bodies of the Church of England was launched in November 2017. During the development of the policy, we sought views from both faith and non-faith organisations. Since the policy launch, the Church Commissioners have discussed our new approach with various faith and non-faith organisations and are due to present the policy to the Church Investors Group in the coming months.A number of the areas of the policy require engagement with extractive industry companies. Our approach has been to seek input and collaboration with other faith investors. We have also shared the policy and outlined approach widely within different faith networks. The Commissioners will continue to seek opportunities to work collaboratively with faith and non-faith investors on this issue of particular ethical importance.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Electronic Training Aids

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the consultation on Animal welfare: banning the use of electronic training collars for cats and dogs, published by his Department in March 2018, what the timescale is for his Department to publish a response to that consultation.

George Eustice: The consultation closes on 27 April. It is normal practice to respond within three months.

Electronic Training Aids

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a ban on the sale of electric shock collars.

George Eustice: In our consultation on a proposal to ban the use of electronic collars we have proposed to make it an offence to use an e-collar, or even to put one on a cat or dog, or be in charge of a cat or dog that is wearing one. We also want to hear views about what these proposals will mean for the sale of e-collars and whether any further restrictions will be required beyond what the government is proposing in order to deliver our objective to end their use.

Plastics

Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans his Department has further to help reduce dependency on single-use plastics items.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: We published our 25 Year Environment Plan on 11 January that stated our ambition to eliminate all avoidable plastic waste and, in particular, the waste from single-use plastics. The steps we will be taking to do this include introducing a DRS subject to consultation; exploring the introduction of plastic-free aisles by retailers; exploring how we can develop our producer responsibility schemes to give producers more incentives to design more resource efficient products; and looking at the compulsory extension of the carrier bag charge to small retailers. In addition the Treasury published a call for evidence on 13 March that is seeking views on how the tax system or charges could reduce the amount of single-use plastics we use and, as a consequence, the waste that arises from that use by reducing the unnecessary production of these items; increasing reuse wherever feasible; and improving the levels of recycling.

Environment Agency and Food Standards Agency: Regulation

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the recommendations directed towards the (a) Environment Agency and (b) Food Standards Agency arising from the Cabinet Office's Regulatory Futures Review, published in January 2017.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: (a) The Environment Agency is working with the Cabinet Office, Defra and other regulators on implementing the recommendations in the Regulatory Futures Review. Progress builds on existing schemes, including: improving cost recovery through implementing its new charging scheme from 1 April 2018;working with business on plans to develop regulated self-assurance and earned recognition beyond the existing pig and poultry assurance scheme;working with major stakeholders to refresh its outcome based approach to implementing regulation as set out in the 2013 Environment Agency report, ‘Regulating for people, the environment and growth’; andworking with others on the feasibility of improving data sharing between regulators through the establishment of a Regulatory Intelligence Hub. (b) The Food Standards Agency fully recognises the need to improve and modernise the way that regulatory controls for food are delivered. It is pursuing the Cabinet Office's Regulatory Futures Review recommendations through its ‘Regulating our Future’ programme (ROF programme) launched in February 2016. It aims to ensure a sustainable approach to food safety regulation, one that brings about behaviour change to benefit consumers. The ministerial responsibility for the Food Standard Agency falls under the Department for Health and Social Care, who can be contacted for further information.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Buildings

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to Answer of 22 March 2018 to Question 132216 on Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: buildings, if he will provide that data by (a) size and (b) amount spent by his Department.

George Eustice: The Core Department occupies sites on the following basis: OccupationSize sq.m.Cost £ per annum   Rented86,90350,217,196Owned159,41634,801,763Other types14,28013,667,163 260,59998,686,122 The size is provided for all buildings on a net internal floor area basis excluding the area (hectares) of land holdings. The annual cost is the 2017/18 budget forecast for total property holding cost. Defra has reduced annual property holdings costs from £170m in 2010 to an expected £98.6m as at March 2018. Property size and cost data was published in the State of the Estate Report for 2015/16 on 2nd February 2017. The web link below will take the reader to the report on Gov.uk. www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/588811/2015-16_State_of_the_Estate_Report_final__1_.pdf  Size is referenced in Appendix B and Defra data is on page 47. Cost is referenced in Appendix D and Defra data is on Page 52.

Animal Welfare: Litter

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent estimate his Department has made of the number of (a) injuries and (b) deaths caused to (i) farmed animals and (ii) wild animals by (A) plastic and (B) other forms of litter.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: Defra does not hold information on the number of injuries and deaths caused to farmed and wild animals by plastic and other forms of litter. However, we do know that plastic can cause injuries and death and that is why we are taking action to reduce plastic pollution.

Fisheries

Drew Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, on what date he was made aware that the UK would remain subject to EU fishing regulations during the transition period.

George Eustice: On 19 March, the UK reached an agreement with the EU on the nature and length of the implementation period. The agreement was endorsed at the European Council meeting on 22 and 23 March.

Fracking: South East

Drew Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the environmental risks of shale oil drilling in the south east of England.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: The Environment Agency has assessed the environmental risks associated with drilling for onshore for oil and gas, including shale oil. Any operator proposing to drill for oil or gas onshore in England must apply for one or more permits from the Environment Agency, depending on the activities involved, as well as holding a Petroleum Exploration and Development Licence from the Oil and Gas Authority and applying for planning permission from the Minerals Planning Authority. The Environment Agency will only grant permits if it is satisfied that drilling will be carried out in a way that protects people and the environment. The permits place legally binding conditions on how drilling is carried out to protect groundwater, surface water and air quality and to ensure the safe storage, management and disposal of waste.

Horses: Databases

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure all horse owners register with the Government's Central Equine Database.

George Eustice: All horses resident in the UK are required to hold an equine passport, which requires registration with a UK Passport Issuing Organisation (PIO). Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/262 requires the particulars of this passport to be included in a national equine database, which includes details of the horse’s owner. The UK therefore requires all PIOs to share relevant data with the Central Equine Database. This gives government, Local Authorities and the Food Standards Agency access to records on all horses and other equines resident in the UK.

Department for Exiting the European Union

Fisheries

Marion Fellows: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what steps he is taking to negotiate a UK-EU withdrawal agreement which ensures that after the implementation period the UK does not trade control over its fisheries for preferential access to the EU internal market for UK financial services.

Suella Fernandes: At the end of the implementation period the UK will be an independent Coastal State providing an opportunity to develop a new domestic fishing policy that is more competitive, more profitable and more sustainable – allowing our coastal communities to thrive. We will have control of our Exclusive Economic Zone (out to 200 nautical miles or the median line with other coastal states). We will be responsible for the management of natural marine resources in this area and will be able to control and manage access to UK waters.

Fisheries

Peter Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, whether he consulted the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs before concluding the deal on fisheries on 19 March 2018.

Mr Steve Baker: We regularly engage with the Cabinet on EU exit, including on the agreement to the implementation period. The Government does not comment on internal Cabinet discussions.

Fisheries

Peter Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, whether he consulted the Prime Minister before concluding the deal on fisheries on 19 March 2018.

Mr Steve Baker: We regularly engage with the Cabinet on EU exit, including on the agreement to the implementation period. The Government does not comment on internal Cabinet discussions.

Government Departments: Brexit

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Department for Exiting the European Union, pursuant to the Answer of 29 November 2017 to Question 115476 on Department for Exiting the European Union: Brexit, how many Departmental EU exit-related workstreams have been established.

Mr Steve Baker: The Department for Exiting the European Union is working closely with all departments to ensure our preparations for exit from, and new partnership with, the EU are on track. We have established a series of arrangements to coordinate departments’ planning and delivery. As indicated in the National Audit Office report, departments have identified exit work streams that are used to structure engagement with DExEU. The structure and development of workstreams is part of ongoing cross-government work to develop and assess potential policy options. There are currently c.300 workstreams, but this number is updated regularly.

Attorney General

Attorney General: Cleaning Services

Catherine West: To ask the Attorney General, what information he holds on the rate of remuneration for cleaners in his Department.

Robert Buckland: The Attorney General's Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Wales Office

Wales Office: SCL Group

Deidre Brock: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, whether (a) his Department and (b) any of his Department's agencies entered into contracts with Strategic Communication Laboratories in each year since 2010.

Stuart Andrew: The Wales Office has not entered into any contracts with Strategic Communication Laboratories.

Ministry of Justice

Prisons: Repairs and Maintenance

Richard Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 9 February 2018 to Question 126481, on Prisons: Repairs and Maintenance, and with reference to the contracts to outsource facilities management in prisons signed in 2014, what the most recent five charges were for which his Department has information on the cost of (a) replacing a broken window, (b) replacing a lock, (c) cleaning up a spillage, (d) fixing a toilet seat and (e) screening a shower.

Rory Stewart: The below table details up to five charges from a recent payment application. As stated in the answer to Question 126481 the disparate nature of the work required for each type of repair will determine the cost of the respective repairs, therefore the sample below is not a sufficient enough sample to derive an accurate average costAs stated in the answer to Question 125576, the Department closely reviews defined costs to ensure that they are at open market value and offer the Department value for money. Item#1#2#3#4#5Notes(a) Replacing a broken window£269.99£87.09£468.36£58.06£152.44Costs include labour and materialsCosts are determined by the size, type, number and location of window.Due to the disparate nature of the work required, the number of windows repaired is not recorded. Some repairs may be a single repair, some may be multiple.(b) replacing a lock£29.03£40.87£40.87£29.03£11.58Costs are for labour costs only. Materials for lock repairs are free-issued by HMPPS.Sample includes repairs to locks and other associated door furniture to allow the safe operation of locks.(c) cleaning up a spillage£344.23£488.76N/AN/AN/ARoutine spillages are either undertaken prisoner parties or contractor cleaners as part of the fixed fee for areas in prisons that they manage.These two tasks represent specialist cleans, such as biological cleans of bodily fluids, which require specialist teams, equipment, and cleaning supplies to meet health and safety standards(d) fixing a toilet seat£87.68£32.13£24.71£13.50£10.50Costs include labour and materialsIncludes repairs to toilet seat brackets.(e) screening a showerN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AThis has been interpreted to mean the hanging of a shower curtain. A recent record of costs cannot be located for this service.

Cabinet Office

Carrillion

Jon Trickett: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department undertook any economic feasibility studies on the effects that the liquidation of Carillion would have on small businesses in their supply chain before deciding not to provide financial assistance to Carillion.

Oliver Dowden: We are doing everything we can to support Carillion’s subcontractors and suppliers impacted by this collapse, but taxpayers should not, and will not, bail out a private sector company for private sector losses or allow rewards for failure.We have also set up a taskforce to advise on the impact on small businesses and employees affected by Carillion insolvency. It will act as a means for government to communicate to those affected by Carillion’s liquidation, assess wider economic impacts and consider how to ensure that employees are provided with the right support to maximise swift re-employment.

Carrillion

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Oral Statement of 15 January, Official Report, Column  624 on Carillon, if he will publish the indemnity given to the Official Receiver.

Oliver Dowden: A copy of the letter indemnifying the Official Receiver was placed in both House on 15th January 2018.

Carillion

Stephanie Peacock: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the level of the fixed fees being charged to public sector organisations by PwC as the liquidator of Carillion for providing continuity of services; what steps he is taking to minimise the effect on the public purse; and if he will make a statement.

Oliver Dowden: Holding answer received on 31 January 2018



PwC are not the Official Receivers. Information on the role of PwC within Carillion is held by the Insolvency Service who are the contracting authority for this work.

Government Departments: Procurement

Bill Esterson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 5 February 2018 to Question 126043 on Government Departments: Procurement, how many and what proportion of major government suppliers have been in compliance with the prompt payment code in each month since that code was introduced.

Oliver Dowden: This information is not currently held centrally.BEIS have recently introduced a payment reporting system, which requires large businesses to report on their UK payment practices and performance. Businesses must report 6 monthly on their payment performance starting with their first full financial year that starts on or after 6 April 2017:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/business-payment-practices-and-performance-reporting-requirementsThis system is in its early stages and not all businesses have yet submitted reports. However, we believe this change will put more pressure on UK businesses to improve their payment culture.We intend to take further steps to improve payment practices in government supply chains and we will be bringing forward proposals shortly.

Prime Minister: Apprentices

Tracy Brabin: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many and what proportion of the staff employed in the Prime Minister's Office are apprentices.

Oliver Dowden: As set out in the Civil Service apprenticeship strategy, the Civil Service has pledged to achieve 30,000 apprenticeship starts in England by 2020, annually delivering 2.3% of our workforce in England as apprenticeship starts.

Government Departments: Cost Effectiveness

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make an estimate of the efficiency savings that better use of technology has enabled for departmental spending since 2010.

Oliver Dowden: In total, benefits of £3.56 billion were achieved in the last spending review period as a result of digital and technology transformation across government (April 2012 - March 2015). GDS delivered over £339 million benefits in 2015/16, improving the quality of services through assuring digital and technology projects.

Electronic Government

Jon Trickett: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what suppliers have been contracted to work on Gov.uk Pay; and what services those suppliers provide.

Oliver Dowden: The Cabinet Office uses a range of suppliers for GOV.UK Pay. All supplier contracts over £10,000 are published on Contracts Finder https://www.gov.uk/contracts-finder

Government Departments: Internet

Jon Trickett: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many page views published Ministerial diaries have received in each of the last 12 months.

Oliver Dowden: The page Cabinet Office: ministerial gifts, hospitality, travel and meetings, July to September 2017 was published in December 2017, and is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cabinet-office-ministerial-gifts-hospitality-travel-and-meetings-july-to-september-2017To date it has had 476 page views.

Civil Servants: Females

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what proportion of Civil Service Fast Stream applicants were women in each financial year since 2013.

Oliver Dowden: The proportion of women applicants to the Civil Service Fast Stream in each financial year since 2013 is available online at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/678425/FSET_Annual_Review_2016.pdf

Civil Servants: Females

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what proportion of successful Civil Service Fast Stream applicants were women in each financial year since 2013.

Oliver Dowden: The proportion of women recommended for appointment to the Civil Service Fast Stream from 2013-2016 is available online at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/678425/FSET_Annual_Review_2016.pdf

Civil Servants: Ethnic Groups

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what proportion of successful Civil Service Fast Stream applicants were black Asian or minority ethnic in each financial year since 2013.

Oliver Dowden: The proportion of BAME candidates recommended for appointment to the Civil Service Fast Stream is available online at; https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/678425/FSET_Annual_Review_2016.pdf

Civil Servants: Ethnic Groups

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office,what proportion of Civil Service Fast Stream applicants were black Asian or minority ethnic in each financial year since 2013.

Oliver Dowden: The proportion of BAME applicants to the Civil Service Fast Stream from 2013-2016 is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/678425/FSET_Annual_Review_2016.pdf

Carillion

Jon Trickett: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 6 March 2018 to Question 129513, on Carillion, and with reference to paragraph 21 of procurement policy note 04/15, whether Crown Commercial Services maintains a database of certificates.

Oliver Dowden: I refer the Hon Member to the answer given to PQ7377 on 7th September 2017.

Electoral Register: Greater Manchester

James Frith: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent estimate he has made of the number of people eligible for enrollment on the electoral register who are not on the register in (a) Bury North (b) Bury and (c) Greater Manchester.

Chloe Smith: The Cabinet Office does not hold information on the numbers of eligible electors. Local authority registration statistics are accessible from the Office for National Statistics website (www.ons.gov.uk).The Electoral Commission occasionally publishes estimates of the number of eligible people not included on electoral registers, but not at sub-regional level. The latest report on register completeness and accuracy was produced by the Electoral Commission in 2016 and is available online (www.electoralcommission.org.uk ).

Government Departments: SCL Group

Alison Thewliss: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what contracts for services the Government has with SCL Group.

Alison Thewliss: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office whether the Government holds any contracts for services with Cambridge Analytica.

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, which Government contracts have been held with Cambridge Analytica and the SCL Group since 2010.

Oliver Dowden: Since January 2011, details of central government contracts above the value of £10,000 are published on Contracts Finder. Contracts published prior to 26 February 2015 can be viewed at:https://data.gov.uk/data/contracts-finder-archiveThose published after 26 February 2015 can be viewed at: https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Search.I am not aware of any current contracts with Cambridge Analytica, or with the SCL group.

Government Departments: Procurement

Jon Trickett: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 21 February 2018 to Question 128032, on Government Departments: Procurement, whether the steps described are commonly taken by all Departments.

Oliver Dowden: As a result of the Corporate Renewal monitoring process, Departments are engaged in a process to improve their contract management capability. It is intended that key contracts should have a Senior Contract Owner and a cross-government community has been established to share best practice in this area.

11 Downing Street: Repairs and Maintenance

Tommy Sheppard: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much has been spent from the public purse on repairs and maintenance at No. 11 Downing Street in each of the last ten years.

Oliver Dowden: Number 11 Downing Street is a part of the Cabinet Office estate which is managed as a whole. Separating these costs would not be possible without incurring disproportionate cost.

10 Downing Street: Repairs and Maintenance

Tommy Sheppard: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much has been spent from the public purse on repairs and maintenance at No. 10 Downing Street in each of the last ten years.

Oliver Dowden: Number 10 Downing Street is a part of the Cabinet Office estate which is managed as a whole. Separating these costs would not be possible without incurring disproportionate cost.

Public Sector: Cybercrime

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent steps he is taking to that ensure public services are protected against cyber-attacks.

Oliver Dowden: The Government takes the threat of cyber attacks against public services very seriously. We support public service providers in improving their cyber resilience and encourage all organisations to implement the advice and guidance developed by National Cyber Security Centre’s experts and published on their website.In addition, the Government's Active Cyber Defence (ACD) programme provides four key services for use across the public sector. This includes Web Check which performs simple tests on public sector websites to find security issues and suggest fixes.

British Nationals Abroad: Voting Rights

Cat Smith: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish the responses to his Department's consultation, A democracy that works for everyone: British citizens overseas, published on 7 October 2016.

Chloe Smith: The Government published a summary of the responses received on 8 February 2018 in ‘A democracy that works for everyone: British citizens overseas - Response to feedback to policy proposals’.

House of Commons Commission

Parliamentary Press Gallery

Michael Fabricant: To ask the right hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington, representing the House of Commons Commission, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of withdrawing Press Gallery passes being issued to (a) Russia TV and (b) RT; and if he will make a statement.

Tom Brake: No Parliamentary Press Gallery passes are currently on issue to RT or Russia TV.